The Vice President of the European Parliament, Piziano, invited the Vice President of the Republic of China, Xiao Meiqin, to speak in Italy, which has sparked strong protests from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Piziano, during a speech on the evening of the 11th alongside Xiao Meiqin, not only responded with a strong retort of “China has no right to decide,” but also revealed that she had accepted Xiao Meiqin’s invitation and will be visiting Taiwan in the near future.
Xiao Meiqin, on the evening of the 11th, accepted an invitation to speak at one of the sessions of the “Vento Taine European Freedom and Democracy Forum” and shared the stage with the conference organizer, Piziano. The host mentioned that despite the strong protests from the CCP’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dominating international media coverage, the historical spirit of defiance against authoritarianism on Vento Taine Island is also fermenting, from inviting the Vice President of Taiwan to Europe, extending to the European Parliament being invited to visit Taiwan as a form of “reciprocity.”
Piziano responded firmly to this, stating that she wanted to emphatically reiterate that “the agenda of the European Parliament, especially the itinerary of Vice President Piziano, will never be decided by Beijing.”
She emphasized her pride in inviting Xiao Meiqin to attend and her determination to continue dialogue, stating, “Because free people speak the same language, free people can recognize themselves, so I am pleased to accept the invitation to visit Taiwan from the Vice President of Taiwan. We will arrange my trip to Taiwan in the coming weeks or months.”
Piziano said the message she wants to convey is simple, clear yet powerful: authoritarian regimes rely on organizational mobilization, as evidenced by the military parades of Chinese President Xi Jinping, always loudly chanting the myth of eternal power, celebrating cruel atrocities alongside tanks.
“We, on the other hand, respond with peaceful words, we look to the future and advocate for freedom,” Piziano said. “Vice President Xiao Meiqin did not bring armies, tanks, or rifles.”
Piziano expressed her reassurance to Xiao Meiqin, stating, “We not only desire to continue to work together, but also are determined to be part of the same team, a team composed of people who fight for democracy and freedom day by day, refusing to bow to the brutal violence of authoritarian regimes, always believing in the power of democracy. This is our shared commitment.”
Before Xiao Meiqin arrived at the venue, Piziano also actively counter-attacked the CCP’s protests on stage, stating, “No one can use pressure, intimidation, or threats to decide who cannot be heard at a conference discussing democracy and freedom.”
“In the face of provocations from the Chinese government, I am proud, and I am very proud to have invited the Vice President of Taiwan, Xiao Meiqin, to participate in the event,” Piziano bluntly stated, as her response to the CCP.
(Transcription courtesy of Central News Agency)