NextFin news, On November 7, 2025, Taiwan’s Vice-President Bi-Khim Hsiao addressed a high-profile gathering of international lawmakers at the European Parliament in Brussels. The setting was a China-focused conference with about 50 parliamentarians from roughly two dozen countries, including prominent representatives from Germany and Spain. Although the European Union does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan due to the prevailing 'one China' policy, this rare address highlighted Taiwan’s strategic importance and democratic values amid escalating pressure from Beijing. The key themes of Hsiao’s speech included a call for reinforced security cooperation, trade diversification, and establishment of reliable technology ecosystems between the EU and Taiwan, particularly in semiconductor and artificial intelligence sectors. The Vice-President firmly stated, “Peace in the Taiwan Strait is essential to global stability and economic continuity, and international opposition against unilateral changes to the status quo by force cannot be overstated.” This assertion resonated strongly amid China’s persistent military posturing and hybrid tactics such as cyberattacks and undersea cable disruptions targeting Taiwan.
Hsiao lauded the democratic perseverance of Taiwan under pressure and drew parallels with Europe’s recent defensive measures against hybrid warfare following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Her remarks received a standing ovation in a closed chamber, indicating European lawmakers’ growing concern over China’s aggressive strategies. Concurrently, Beijing criticized the event as a platform for 'separatist activities,' issuing official protests to the European side. This diplomatic friction underlines the complexities of EU-Taiwan engagement in the shadow of China’s territorial claims and military threats. Hsiao’s visit was notably conducted under heightened security precautions, following prior intelligence of Chinese plots to intimidate her during travel.
The context of this address reflects several intersecting geopolitical and economic trends. China's recent disruptions of global supply chains—including rare earth export throttling and semiconductor export limitations—have prompted major economies like the EU to reassess their dependency risks. Taiwan remains a critical node in the global high-tech supply chain, particularly for advanced semiconductors, essential not only for consumer electronics but also for defense and AI applications. According to Chatham House’s Asia-Pacific program director Ben Bland, a potential conflict involving Taiwan could inflict far greater damage on European and global markets than the Ukraine war, given Taiwan’s pivotal role in these strategic industries.
Moreover, Taiwan has pledged to expand its defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2030, with programs like the T-Dome air defense system aimed at deterring Chinese coercion. Hsiao’s advocacy for deeper technological and trade alliances with the EU aligns with Taiwan’s broader strategy to diversify its diplomatic and economic partnerships beyond the United States and its Asia-Pacific neighbors. This approach employs what can be described as a resilience-building framework, emphasizing trust, transparency, and democratic governance as foundational principles for international cooperation.
The European Union’s stance, while officially adhering to the one-China policy, is increasingly assertive in opposing any use of force to alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. This evolving posture is influenced by growing awareness of the strategic risks posed by China’s hybrid warfare tactics. Hsiao’s address calls into sharp relief the EU’s need to reconcile formal diplomatic constraints with pragmatic engagement in security and technology sectors that underpin democratic resilience.
Looking ahead, the implications of Hsiao’s visit and message may catalyze further EU initiatives to strengthen Taiwan’s global connectivity and fortify joint supply chains—particularly in semiconductors and AI. The call for a reliable technology ecosystem rooted in democratic values may prompt enhanced investments and regulatory frameworks favoring Taiwan-EU collaboration. Such moves would likely reverberate in the broader US-China-EU triangular dynamics, with the Biden administration’s successors—under President Donald Trump since January 2025—also monitoring transatlantic alignment on countering China’s assertiveness.
Nonetheless, Beijing’s response suggests that increasing EU-Taiwan exchanges risk intensifying geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. The challenge for European policymakers will be balancing strategic deterrence and economic interests with the diplomatic imperative to avoid escalation. Taiwan’s reinforced defense commitments and international diplomatic outreach, exemplified by Hsiao’s speech, signal mounting preparedness for protracted contestation in the Taiwan Strait, making it a focal point for international security architecture in 2026 and beyond.
In conclusion, Vice-President Bi-Khim Hsiao’s address to the European Parliament represents a significant diplomatic milestone underscoring the nexus of democracy, security, and technology in Taiwan’s global strategy. Her advocacy highlights the essential role of the EU and like-minded democracies in sustaining peace and stability in a region increasingly vulnerable to coercive revisionism. Strengthening Taiwan Strait stability is not only crucial for East Asian regional security but also for sustaining the integrity of global supply chains critical to the world economy.
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