Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) arrived on the Italian island of Ventotene to attend the second Ventotene Conference for Freedom and Democracy. European Parliament Vice President Pina Picierno emphasized that no one, including China, has the right to interfere in the event.

According to Italy’s ANSA news agency, as reported by Taiwan’s Central News Agency on Friday, September 11, Picierno stated that Hsiao’s attendance could not be announced in advance, primarily because of potential interference from the Chinese government.

Picierno went on to say that no one, including China, gets to decide who can or cannot speak at Ventotene, a place that symbolizes freedom, resistance, and democracy. She said she was proud to be able to listen to the voices of those who resist the pressure of authoritarian threats every day, defending their own freedom and democracy.

In a separate Facebook post, Picierno wrote that Hsiao’s arrival carries a simple and clear message: intimidation cannot decide who takes part in democratic debate, and freedom of speech cannot be negotiated with authoritarian regimes.

The Ventotene Conference for Freedom and Democracy was launched by Picierno in 2025, inviting dissidents, activists, and leaders from across Europe to discuss how to counter authoritarianism and safeguard democracy. Also attending the event, which runs from September 10 to 12, is Oleksandra Matviichuk, the head of Ukraine’s Centre for Civil Liberties, which received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022.