High-level contacts between Taiwan and Europe are becoming a regular practice — good news for Taiwan, and bad news for Beijing's pressure strategy.

• Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim has been invited to Italy to attend a forum on freedom and democracy, her second visit to Europe within a year.
• Engin Eroglu, chair of the European Parliament's delegation for relations with China, said Europe increasingly regards Taiwan as a partner, and that exchanges and visits are becoming "institutionalised".
• Senior Taiwanese diplomats travel to Europe frequently; Tsai Ing-wen has also visited the European Parliament, and the parliaments of countries such as Italy and the Czech Republic maintain active ties with Taiwan.
• Outside pressure has, if anything, provoked a stronger pushback from Europe; the EU continues to maintain its relations with Taiwan within the framework of its "one China policy", a position that has been consistent for years.
• The lesson drawn from the war in Ukraine is that attitude alone is not enough — credible deterrence is also needed, including continued freedom-of-navigation operations and cooperation on supply chain resilience.

Outlook: High-level visits and security coordination between Taiwan and Europe are expected to keep increasing, with attention shifting to how political statements can be turned into substantive deterrence.