China has lodged a “serious protest” with Italy and the European Union over the visit of a senior Taiwanese official to the Italian island of Ventotene, urging both sides to uphold what Beijing describes as the one-China principle.
The diplomatic protest followed the participation of Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan’s vice president and second-highest-ranking official, in the second Ventotene European Conference for Freedom and Democracy.
Hsiao is attending the three-day conference alongside Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung. The event, which began on Thursday and runs through Saturday, is being held on the Italian island of Ventotene and focuses on issues relating to democracy, freedom and Europe’s political future.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning criticised Hsiao’s participation during a press briefing on Friday, accusing Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and individual Taiwanese politicians of attempting to secure international support for what Beijing considers a separatist agenda.
Mao said the Taiwanese authorities were using the language of democracy and freedom to promote what she described as efforts aimed at advancing Taiwan’s independence.
“Their moves are simply despicable and futile,” Mao said, reiterating Beijing’s position that there is only one China and that Taiwan forms an inseparable part of Chinese territory.
She added that China firmly opposes what it considers official interactions between Taiwan and countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Beijing.
The participation of Hsiao at the conference had not been publicly announced ahead of her arrival, according to reports. Her presence subsequently drew attention because of the sensitivity surrounding Taiwan’s relations with China and European governments.
European Parliament Vice President Pina Picierno defended Hsiao’s participation, saying the visit had been kept confidential until her arrival in order to protect her participation in the event.
Picierno argued that political leaders should be able to participate in discussions on European democracy and freedom without their presence being dictated by another government.
According to a statement attributed to Picierno, no country should be able to determine who can be hosted on European territory or dictate which voices can participate in political discussions.
Her comments drew a sharp response from Beijing.
Mao reiterated China’s position that the one-China principle is a broadly recognised norm governing international relations and represents what Beijing described as an established international consensus.
She further argued that the principle forms the political foundation of China’s diplomatic relations with both Italy and the European Union.
Mao therefore called on Italy and the EU to demonstrate their adherence to the one-China principle through concrete actions.
The dispute reflects the longstanding diplomatic sensitivity surrounding Taiwan’s international activities. Beijing regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and maintains that the island must eventually be brought under Chinese sovereignty, by force if necessary.
Taiwan, however, has maintained its own democratic government, military, currency and institutions since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949. Taipei rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and maintains that the island’s future should be determined by its people.
Most countries, including Italy and the other members of the European Union, maintain diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China rather than Taiwan. At the same time, several European governments and institutions have expanded unofficial economic, cultural and political engagement with Taipei.
That balance has become increasingly difficult as tensions between Beijing and Taipei have intensified.
China has repeatedly objected to visits by Taiwanese officials to countries with which Beijing has diplomatic relations, particularly when such visits involve meetings with government representatives or participation in high-level political events.
For European governments, Taiwan presents a delicate diplomatic issue. While the EU recognises the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China under its one-China policy, European officials have continued to engage with Taiwan in areas including trade, technology, democracy and cultural exchanges.
The Ventotene conference has added another dimension to the dispute because the event is explicitly focused on freedom and democracy. Taiwan frequently presents itself internationally as a democratic society and seeks greater international participation, while Beijing argues that such activities are attempts to advance Taiwan’s independence internationally.
The latest diplomatic dispute therefore highlights the continuing tension between Beijing’s insistence on limiting Taiwan’s official international engagement and European institutions’ efforts to maintain dialogue with Taipei.
China’s protest also comes at a time when relations between Beijing and several Western governments remain complicated by disagreements over trade, security, technology and geopolitical influence.
For Italy and the EU, the incident could test their efforts to maintain close economic relations with China while preserving political and unofficial ties with Taiwan.
Beijing’s latest warning makes clear that it expects Italy and the wider European bloc to take its one-China position into account when dealing with Taiwanese officials.
For Taiwan, however, participation in international conferences and engagement with foreign political figures remain important components of its efforts to maintain an international presence despite its limited formal diplomatic recognition.
The dispute over Hsiao’s visit is therefore unlikely to be viewed in Beijing or Taipei as simply a disagreement over one conference. Instead, it reflects the broader and increasingly sensitive struggle over Taiwan’s international status and the extent to which European countries can engage with Taiwanese officials without provoking a reaction from China.
