Taiwan says Chinese agents shadowed Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim on her trip to Italy, a sign of how hard Beijing works to block Taiwan from the world stage.

• A woman posing as a cleaner was caught trying to slip into the hall before Hsiao spoke at a European freedom and democracy forum, and security removed her.
• Suspicious people also turned up at the airport where she changed planes and at the ferry port on the way to the island venue.
• European governments helped with security and kept the trip secret to stop China from disrupting it.
• Beijing's goal is to paint Taiwan as an internal Chinese matter, which would cut off outside support.

Outlook: Taiwan will keep pushing for high-level appearances abroad, and China will keep trying to shut them down.