11th September 2026 – (Ventotene) Taiwan’s vice president, Hsiao Bi-khim, has arrived on the Italian island of Ventotene to join the second Ventotene Conference for Freedom and Democracy, European Parliament vice-president Pina Picierno announced, after organisers kept her itinerary under wraps until she landed.
Taipei confirmed the trip on Friday, saying Hsiao had been invited to the gathering and was travelling with foreign minister Lin Chia-lung. The conference, launched by Picierno in 2025 to discuss how democracies confront authoritarian pressure, runs from Thursday to Saturday, 10th to 12th September, in Lazio’s Ventotene.
Picierno told the forum she had been late to the proceedings because parts of the agenda had not been made public earlier. She said Hsiao had only just reached Ventotene and that the visit could not be announced in advance mainly because of interference from mainland China. She insisted that nobody, including Beijing, could decide who may or may not speak at the event, and said organisers were proud to hear from those who face daily pressure while defending their own freedom and democracy.
Beijing responded the same day that it had lodged solemn representations with Italy and European authorities over what it called Taiwan independence politicians attending the meeting. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning accused the Democratic Progressive Party authorities and individual politicians of chasing publicity under the banners of democracy and freedom while seeking independence with foreign backing, calling the effort contemptible and ultimately futile. She urged relevant parties to uphold the one-China principle in concrete actions.
Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo said Taipei would explain the trip in due course after Hsiao returns home. Until then, the island administration has offered little beyond confirmation that the vice president and foreign minister accepted the Ventotene invitation and travelled together for the three-day meeting.