Taiwan's vice president made a rare European appearance despite Beijing's efforts to block it, a win for Taiwan's international visibility and a setback for China's isolation campaign.

• Hsiao Bi-khim attended a freedom and democracy conference on the Italian island of Ventotene, her second trip to Europe in under a year.
• Her arrival was kept secret until the last moment to stop Beijing from interfering.
• European Parliament Vice President Pina Picierno personally greeted her and said no one, including China, gets to decide who speaks there.
• IPAC, a group of over 300 lawmakers from 45 countries known for its hard line on Beijing, welcomed the visit and said the answer to Chinese pressure is to keep showing how welcome Taiwan is.

Outlook: Expect more high-profile Taiwanese appearances in Europe and sharper protests from Beijing each time.