The vice president of the European Parliament has called Taiwan's Vice
President Hsiao Bi-khim a role model for freedom-loving women around the
world.

Pina Picierno made the comment after Hsiao made an unannounced visit to Italy
to attend the Second Ventotene European Conference for Freedom and Democracy
late last week.

Picierno said she believes the world needs the courage of women and as
authoritarian regimes threaten democracies, there's an even greater need for
courageous women like Hsiao.

Picierno further acknowledged Hsiao's fight for human rights and women's
rights.

The Presidential Office has said Hsiao was invited to the event by its
organizers, despite strong protests from Beijing.

The trip was Hsiao's second visit to a European country since she took office
in May 2024.

Her first visit was in November of 2025 to Brussels to address a meeting of
the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.