European Parliament Vice President Lauds Taiwanese Leader Hsiao as Global Inspiration for Women

Taipei: European Parliament Vice President Pina Picierno on Saturday praised Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim as a role model for freedom-loving women around the world and announced plans to visit Taipei after accepting Hsiao's invitation. According to Focus Taiwan, Hsiao made an unannounced visit to Italy to attend the Second Ventotene European Conference for Freedom and Democracy on the Italian island of Ventotene, despite strong protests from Beijing. Picierno, the conference's main initiator, described Hsiao as a role model during an interview on the sidelines of the event. "I believe the world needs the courage of women; and throughout history, many women have changed the course of history through their determination," Picierno said. She emphasized the importance of courageous women like Hsiao in the face of authoritarian regimes threatening democracies. Picierno highlighted Hsiao's efforts for human rights and women's rights, referring to her as a "staunch pro-democracy activist" who inspires w omen around the globe. She called for unity among women who cherish freedom and democracy. Hsiao's visit marked her second trip to a European country recognizing Beijing over Taipei since taking office in May 2024, following her visit to Brussels in November 2025. The Italy trip sparked protests from China, which lodged complaints with Italy and the European Union. Addressing concerns over threats from China, Picierno stated that she was under Italian security protection due to threats from Russia and other regimes. She expressed her resolve to face threats unwaveringly, drawing parallels with the historical battles for democracy within the EU. Picierno reaffirmed the European Parliament's independence from Moscow and Beijing's influence and declared no room for compromise with regimes violating human rights. She urged for global unity among freedom-loving people against authoritarian alignments. Picierno's acceptance of Hsiao's invitation to Taiwan marks the beginning of collaborative efforts between the leaders, with planning for the visit set to commence in the coming weeks. "Our collaboration -- between myself and the vice president of Taiwan -- is just beginning," Picierno stated.