There is certainly a greater level of caution in Europe when it comes to the level of publicity of official engagement with Taiwan, but the European Commission’s decision to pull out of the event in Italy where Taiwan Vice President Hsiao Bi-Khim attended as a special guest will send a wrong signal to Beijing and reinforce Beijing’s belief that it could continue to exert pressure to limit European engagement with Taipei.

“The European Commission cancelled its participation in a conference in Italy after Taiwan’s Vice Premier Hsiao Bi-khim was announced as a surprise guest.

On Thursday, the European Parliament office in Italy announced the arrival of Taiwan’s vice premier on the island. Taiwan’s foreign minister was also present at the conference.
The European Commission Representation in Italy then informed the European Parliament’s Liaison Office – whose staff were already on the island – that it wanted its own logo removed from the event, a parliamentary official told Euractiv. The latest version of the programme available online now carries only the Parliament’s logo.

A Commission official, Alessandro Giordani, was due to speak on a panel with Picierno on Saturday afternoon. He called off his participation, while en route to Ventotene.”

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