Taiwan's vice-president broke through Beijing's diplomatic blockade with a speech in Italy, a win for Taiwan and a snub to China.

• Hsiao Bi-khim spoke as guest of honor at a democracy forum on the Italian island of Ventotene.
• European Parliament vice-president Pina Picierno hit back at Chinese protests, saying Beijing does not set Europe's agenda.
• Picierno accepted an invitation to visit Taiwan and plans the trip within months.
• She linked Xi Jinping's military parade to the way dictatorships stage shows of permanent power.
• It is Hsiao's second trip to Europe in a year, after addressing lawmakers in Brussels last November.

Outlook: Europe–Taiwan contacts look set to keep growing and becoming routine, with more parliamentary visits expected despite Chinese pressure.