Hsiao's Brussels speech a first for Taiwan VP in non-diplomatic ally: FM

Taipei, Nov. 9 (CNA) Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim's (蕭美琴) recent trip to Brussels, where she delivered an address at the European Parliament, marks the opening of a new chapter in the Taiwan-European Union relations, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said Sunday.

"The visit marks a historic step forward for Taiwan's diplomacy, as the nation's vice president visited a country without official ties for the first time and delivered a speech at the European Parliament," Lin wrote in a Facebook post.

He said Hsiao's visit and speech signaled that "Taiwan's partnership with Europe is entering a new stage."

"Under this new model, Taiwan and Europe will continue to explore more possibilities for cooperation and exchanges," Lin wrote. "Taiwan will be more confident in its efforts to move forward on the world stage."

Hsiao and Lin returned to Taiwan after a brief visit to Brussels for the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China's (IPAC) annual summit, where Hsiao gave a speech Friday titled "Taiwan: A Trusted Partner in a Volatile World."

While Taiwan's top leaders have spoken in parliaments of diplomatic allies before, this was the first time a president or vice president did so in a non-diplomatic partner's legislature.

Beijing strongly protested the visit. A spokesperson for the Chinese mission to the EU labeled IPAC -- a global coalition of lawmakers critical of China and supportive of Taiwan -- an "anti-China organization."

"Despite China's strong opposition and solemn representations, the European Parliament allowed leading 'Taiwan independence' figures such as Hsiao Bi-khim to enter its building to attend the summit and carry out 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities," the spokesperson said in a statement released Saturday.

The statement accused the European Parliament of violating the one-China principle and "eroding political mutual trust between China and the EU."

Lin said he has visited Europe four times since becoming foreign minister in May 2024, which helped strengthen mutual trust and laid the groundwork for Hsiao's Brussels visit.

Anticipating possible disruption from China, Lin said the trip was kept highly classified. He thanked President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) for his trust, and European lawmakers for inviting Hsiao to speak.

A diplomatic source told CNA that even Hsiao herself was unaware that she would travel to Brussels until shortly before her departure. She was initially told her speech would be delivered via pre-recorded video, the source said.

China also lodged protests with the EU over the arrangement, but to no avail, as European officials remained supportive and helped facilitate the visit, the source said.

Tunghai University political science professor Lin Tzu-li (林子立) said Hsiao's trip was "the most impressive performance of Taiwan's parliamentary diplomacy in recent years."

While Hsiao spoke at the IPAC summit rather than before the European Parliament as a whole, it remained a major diplomatic breakthrough, he said.

"It will not be the last time we see Taiwan's senior officials speaking in parliaments or congresses in other democratic countries," Lin Tzu-li added.