Beijing lodges diplomatic protests over Taiwan official’s visit to Italy

Beijing has strongly condemned a visit to Italy by senior Taiwanese officials and lodged formal diplomatic protests with both Rome and Brussels.

Criticising the visit on Friday, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Beijing had submitted “serious representations against Italy and the European Union” following reports that Taiwan’s No 2 official, Hsiao Bi-khim, had arrived in Italy to attend an international forum.

“[Taiwan’s] Democratic Progressive Party authorities and individual politicians have spared no effort to seek attention everywhere, attempting to pursue independence under the guise of democracy and freedom,” Mao said. “Their moves are truly despicable, and futile.”

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Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the United States and Italy, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-ruled island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.

Italy, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Mao said Beijing firmly opposed any official interaction between Taiwan and nations that maintained formal diplomatic ties with Beijing. Beijing says such visits violate the one-China principle.

She said the one-China principle was a widely recognised norm in international relations and the fundamental political foundation for Beijing’s relations with both Italy and the EU, calling on relevant parties to observe it through concrete action.