Taiwan has pulled off a rare diplomatic win in Europe, a clear setback for Beijing's efforts to keep Taiwanese leaders off the continent.

• Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim arrived on the Italian island of Ventotene to speak at a conference on freedom and democracy.
• European Parliament Vice President Pina Picierno announced the visit on stage and said nobody, China included, gets to decide who speaks there.
• Taiwan's presidential office and foreign ministry confirmed the trip, with Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung accompanying her.
• Ventotene carries symbolic weight in Europe as a place tied to resistance and the founding ideas of European unity.

Outlook: Expect angry protests from Beijing and pressure on Rome, while European lawmakers push to keep inviting Taiwanese officials.