Italian foreign relations yielding success: minister update

Italy Strengthens Ties with Taiwan, Pledges Support for Indo-Pacific

Italy has shown its commitment to enhancing its presence in the Indo-Pacific region, with a recent pledge to bolster its engagement in the region. This development comes as the Italian government voiced its support for safeguarding peace in the Taiwan Strait and expressed admiration for Taiwan's semiconductor technology, economy, and role as a democratic force.

A high-level Italian delegation, led by Deputy Minister Paroli, visited Taiwan this week, marking a significant step in the growing relationship between the two nations. The delegation, which included senators Maffoni, Losacco, Dario Damiani, and Cinzia Pellegrino, as well as Luca Squeri and Raffaele Nevi from the Chamber of Deputies, met with Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and is scheduled to meet with Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang, Vice Minister of National Defense Po Horng-huei, and other officials.

During their meetings, the Italian delegation expressed a desire to boost bilateral ties and continue promoting pro-Taiwan bills and policies. Taiwan, in response, expressed its gratitude to the Italian officials and parliamentarians for their continued support.

Italy's increased involvement in the Indo-Pacific region is not a new development. In the past, the G7, including Italy, has sent military vessels through the Taiwan Strait to assert freedom of navigation. The Italian government's stance on the Taiwan Strait aligns with this historical practice, indicating a consistent commitment to upholding international law and maintaining peace in the region.

However, it should be noted that Italian parties or government coalitions that support pro-Taiwan policies and have advocated for Italy's participation in freedom of navigation exercises in the Taiwan Strait are not explicitly identified in the available search results.

Additional reporting on this matter was done by CNA. As the relationship between Italy and Taiwan continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how this developing alliance contributes to the broader geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific region.