A suspected Chinese agent tried to slip into Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim's speech venue in Italy, a sign of Beijing's pressure on Taiwan that the ruling party says will not scare Taipei off the world stage.

• Three hours before the speech, a woman claiming to be a cleaner was stopped by security at the freedom and democracy forum on the Italian island of Ventotene — no cleaners were scheduled.
• Taiwan's representative to the EU, Hsieh Chih-wei, said the world is watching Taiwan, and so is China.
• Hsiao was sent by President Lai Ching-te and spoke at the event from the 10th to the 12th before returning home.
• Ruling DPP lawmakers called the squeeze on Taiwan's diplomatic space routine by now and said Taiwan will keep pushing outward rather than back down.
• The party framed Taiwan as a partner Europe needs on democracy, tech, and trade, arguing Beijing is the one acting strangely by trying to pick Europe's friends.

Outlook: Expect more Taiwanese outreach to Europe and more Chinese attempts to block it, with each trip drawing louder protests from Beijing.