Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim has made a rare visit to Europe, attending the Ventotene Conference for Freedom and Democracy on the Italian island of Ventotene alongside Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung. Her participation was kept secret until her arrival, according to European Parliament Vice President Pina Picierno, who said the secrecy was necessary to shield the visit from potential Chinese pressure. The trip is notable because officials of Hsiao's seniority rarely travel to regions that, like most of the world, lack formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan — which Beijing claims as its own territory — due to the risk of diplomatic backlash against host nations.