In a rare and closely watched appearance, Taiwan’s Vice President Bi-Khim Hsiao delivered a compelling address to international lawmakers in Brussels on November 8, 2025, urging the European Union to strengthen its security and trade relationship with the self-governing island. Hsiao’s speech, delivered in a small chamber of the European Parliament during a China-focused conference, highlighted the growing threats posed by China and underscored the importance of democratic solidarity in an era marked by global volatility.
“Peace in the Taiwan Strait is essential to global stability and economic continuity, and international opposition against unilateral changes to the status quo by force cannot be overstated,” Hsiao told assembled lawmakers, according to the Associated Press. Her remarks drew a standing ovation from the audience, which included representatives from countries such as Germany and Spain.
Hsiao’s visit, organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China—a coalition of hundreds of lawmakers seeking unified international action on China-related challenges—was kept under wraps due to heightened security concerns. Reports surfaced that Chinese agents plotted to ram her car during a visit to the Czech Republic in March 2024, when she was vice president-elect. Czech officials later confirmed that Chinese agents had followed Hsiao and planned to intimidate her physically. Despite these threats, Hsiao remained undeterred, stating, as reported by Economic Times, that the Chinese Communist Party’s “unlawful activities” would not stop her from “voicing Taiwan’s interests in the international community.”
In her Brussels address, Hsiao drew pointed parallels between the hybrid threats faced by Taiwan and those confronting Europe since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She noted that Taiwan has endured cyberattacks and undersea internet cable disruptions attributed to China, while European countries have grappled with similar hybrid attacks. “Europe has defended freedom under fire, and Taiwan has built democracy under pressure,” Hsiao declared, emphasizing the shared experiences and values of the two regions.
Hsiao advocated for deeper collaboration between Taiwan and the EU on trusted supply chains and artificial intelligence technology. She specifically called on lawmakers from Germany, Spain, and other nations to work with Taiwan to build “a reliable technology ecosystem rooted in trust, transparency and democratic values”—a relationship she likened to the existing cooperation on semiconductor sales. According to Economic Times, she also referenced China’s recent throttling of rare earth exports to the EU as an example of how Beijing’s disruptions have exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains.
Despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations—since the EU, like most countries including the United States, adheres to a “One China” policy—the bloc maintains robust trade ties with Taiwan and shares common democratic principles. The EU has consistently opposed the use of military force by China to resolve its dispute with Taiwan, and Hsiao’s visit underscored the potential for further cooperation.
China’s response to Hsiao’s appearance was swift and severe. The Chinese mission to Europe issued a statement condemning the EU parliament for permitting what it described as “separatist activities” by Taiwan independence figures in its building. The statement, published on the mission’s website, read: “This act seriously harms China’s core interests and violates the one-China principle, while seriously interfering in China’s internal affairs and undermining China-EU political mutual trust.” China reiterated that the Taiwan issue is a red line concerning its sovereignty and urged Europe to stop sending “wrong signals” to what it called “separatist forces.”
Beijing routinely asserts that Taiwan’s independence is a “dead end,” maintaining its claim that the island is part of China and vowing to annex it by force if necessary. In recent years, China’s military has ramped up its activities around Taiwan, conducting near-daily drills with warships and fighter jets in the island’s skies and waters. These displays of force have heightened security concerns in Taipei and among its international partners.
Responding to these threats, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te announced in October 2025 a significant acceleration of the island’s defense initiatives. Lai pledged to expedite the construction of the “T-Dome” air defense system and to boost defense spending to 5% of Taiwan’s GDP by 2030. This commitment comes amid what Lai and other officials describe as an increasingly precarious security environment, with the risk of conflict over Taiwan looming large on the international stage.
The conference in Brussels, attended by roughly 50 lawmakers from about two dozen countries, served as a platform for democratic nations to coordinate on China-related policy. The event, according to the Associated Press, was emblematic of a growing recognition in Europe of the strategic importance of Taiwan—not only as a fellow democracy but also as a linchpin in global technology and electronics supply chains.
Ben Bland, director of the Asia-Pacific program at Chatham House, offered a sobering analysis last month, as cited by both AP and Economic Times. He warned that a conflict over Taiwan could have consequences for Europe far more devastating than Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, given Taiwan’s pivotal role in the semiconductor and electronics industries. “European nations cannot stop Beijing from squeezing Taiwan harder,” Bland wrote. “But they can help to preserve and even increase Taiwan’s global connections, and share lessons in how to stay resilient.”
Indeed, the EU’s relationship with Taiwan is shaped by a delicate balancing act—upholding the “One China” policy while seeking to protect its own economic and security interests. The bloc’s support for Taiwan, particularly in the realms of technology, supply chains, and democratic governance, has become increasingly visible as tensions with China mount.
Hsiao’s visit and her call for closer EU-Taiwan ties come at a moment when the international community is reassessing its approach to China. The growing rivalry between the United States and China, along with Beijing’s assertive actions in the Taiwan Strait and beyond, have prompted European policymakers to consider how best to safeguard their interests while maintaining stability in the region.
For Taiwan, the stakes could hardly be higher. The island’s leadership, facing the prospect of increasing isolation and military pressure, is seeking to deepen its partnerships with like-minded democracies. The hope, as articulated by Hsiao and echoed by her supporters in Brussels, is that such alliances will help ensure that Taiwan remains resilient in the face of mounting challenges.
As the world watches the evolving dynamics in the Taiwan Strait and the broader Indo-Pacific, the outcome of these diplomatic efforts will have far-reaching implications—not just for Taiwan and the EU, but for the stability of the global order itself.
