CaliToday (09/11/2025): In a rare and high-stakes diplomatic address, Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim delivered a powerful appeal at the European Parliament in Brussels on November 7, calling for a dramatic increase in trade, security, and technological cooperation with Western nations. The speech came as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) intensifies its military and diplomatic campaign to isolate the democratic island.
Speaking at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) conference, Vice President Hsiao issued a stark warning, framing the security of her nation as a matter of global concern.
“Peace in the Taiwan Strait is central to global stability and the continuity of the world economy,” Hsiao stated. “International opposition to any unilateral change of the status quo by force must not be underestimated.”
In a major policy announcement demonstrating Taiwan's commitment to its own defense, Hsiao pledged that the nation would increase its defense spending to 5% of its GDP by 2030 to counter the "growing military and security pressure from Beijing."
Beyond "Technical Glitches"
Hsiao highlighted the CCP’s "hybrid warfare" tactics, referencing a 2023 incident where Taiwan’s undersea telecommunications cables were cut, severing communications for several outlying islands. She noted that similar incidents have occurred in Europe, urging leaders to see them not as "technical glitches" but as a "test of the strategic resilience and coordinated response of democracies."
The Vice President laid out four key pillars for deeper cooperation with IPAC member states:
Trade and Technology
Defense and Cybersecurity
Global Integration
Preserving Peace in the Taiwan Strait
She also made a passionate plea for European parliamentarians to support Taiwan’s participation in global bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and Interpol, arguing that "the Taiwanese people are always striving to be a force for good in this world."
Beijing's Backlash and U.S. Resolve
The speech was seen as a bold diplomatic maneuver, as high-level Taiwanese officials are rarely permitted to speak at the European Parliament due to intense pressure and threats of retaliation from Beijing.
As predicted, the Chinese Mission to the EU immediately condemned the visit, releasing a statement that called it a "serious violation of the One China principle" and an act that "undermines political trust between China and the EU."
The CCP, which has never ruled Taiwan, continues to view the island as a "renegade province" and has refused to rule out the use of force to seize it. In recent months, Beijing has escalated its military exercises, sending fighter jets and warships to menace the island on a near-daily basis and sparking fears of a full-scale conflict in Asia's most critical flashpoint.
This volatile situation has drawn a firm response from Taiwan's key ally, the United States. The U.S. Department of War, under the leadership of Secretary Pete Hegseth, has repeatedly warned against "China's provocative military activities around Taiwan and in the South China Sea."
In a recent, first-ever direct meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun, Secretary Hegseth was blunt: "The United States does not seek conflict, but we will be firm in defending our interests and maintaining the necessary defense capabilities in the region."
Observers note that Hsiao’s successful European trip highlights Taiwan's steadfast resolve to counter CCP coercion. It also serves as clear evidence of the Trump administration's and Secretary Hegseth's ongoing efforts to build a global coalition to protect freedom and deter Beijing's expansionism.