Taiwan Vice President Makes Rare Visit to Europe for Democracy Conference
2 sources across 2 countries · Qatar · United States · 1 of them is linked to a state
Who reported this
- Al Jazeera
- Bloomberg
What the colours mean
- Left
- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
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Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim is visiting Italy to attend the Ventotene Conference for Freedom and Democracy. She is traveling alongside Taiwan's Foreign Minister, Lin Chia-lung. According to the presidential office, further details will be provided after the officials return to Taiwan.
European Parliament Vice President Pina Picierno stated that the visit was kept secret until arrival to protect the participation of the Taiwanese delegation. Picierno asserted that intimidation from autocracies cannot determine who participates in democratic debates and that freedom of debate is non negotiable.
While Taiwanese foreign ministers occasionally visit regions without formal ties to the island, it is rare for an official as senior as the vice president to do so because of the risk of backlash from Beijing. China claims Taiwan as one of its provinces, a position the democratically governed island rejects. Other notable participants in the conference include 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk.
Center leaning coverage frames the trip as a move that defies China's efforts to diplomatically isolate Taiwan. Center left coverage focuses on the event as a defense of democratic debate and the necessity of protecting participants from intimidation.
How each side framed it
- Centre-left
- Framed the visit as a stand for freedom of debate against autocratic intimidation.
- Centre
- Framed the visit as a defiance of China's push for diplomatic isolation.
Sources
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