Italy is refusing to back down after China protested a speech by Taiwan's vice president on Italian soil, a small but real diplomatic win for Taipei.

• Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim spoke at a democracy forum on the Italian island of Ventotene, invited by a European Parliament vice president.
• China's foreign ministry lodged formal protests with both Italy and the EU over the visit.
• Italy's foreign minister Antonio Tajani said his government has had no contact at all with Beijing about it.
• Italy still follows the One China policy but also backs keeping things as they are in the Taiwan Strait, a deliberately balanced line.

Outlook: Expect more European invitations to Taiwanese officials and more Chinese protests that change little on the ground.