Taipei: Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) pushed back Friday against Beijing's criticism of Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim's ongoing visit to Italy, saying China has no right to interfere in the trip.

According to Focus Taiwan, MOFA spokesperson Hsiao Kuangwei stated that China has no right to dictate Hsiao's participation in events she was invited to by the European Parliament.

The spokesperson's comments came after Beijing criticized the vice president's unannounced trip to the Italian island of Ventotene, where she attended the Second Ventotene European Conference for Freedom and Democracy. MOFA confirmed the visit early Friday following an announcement by European Parliament Vice President Pina Picierno, who organized the event, confirming Hsiao's arrival in Italy for the conference running from Thursday to Saturday.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning expressed that Beijing had lodged solemn representations with Italy and the European Union over the visit. Mao emphasized China's consistent opposition to any form of official contact between Taiwan and countries with diplomatic relations with China, citing Beijing's "one China" principle as the political foundation of China-Italy and China-EU relations.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung accompanied Hsiao on the trip, according to MOFA. However, the ministry declined to disclose further details of their itinerary. Meanwhile, Luke de Pulford, executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), voiced support for Hsiao's participation in the event, stating that Taiwan should be welcomed internationally and not persecuted or outcast.