Former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen visited Rome last week for the Global Women Leaders Summit, where she was personally received inside the Italian Senate by its deputy speaker — a reception that underscored the quiet but steady expansion of Taiwan's diplomatic footprint in Europe.
Tsai attended the summit from June 22 to 25 at the invitation of Georgetown University's Institute for Women, Peace and Security. On Sunday, her office announced that she had been welcomed into the Palazzo Madama — the historic seat of the Italian Senate — by Deputy Speaker Gian Marco Centinaio, accompanied by Senator Maurizio Marano, chair of the Italy-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group.
"This represents the gradual deepening of exchanges between Taiwan and Italy," Tsai said in a statement. She described stepping onto the floor of an allied democracy's legislature as "a meaningful step" toward direct dialogue on shared challenges facing Taiwan, the Indo-Pacific region, and global democracy.
High-Level Access Signals Growing Cross-Party Italian Support
Beyond the summit itself, Tsai held meetings with members of both chambers of the Italian parliament, drawing from across the political spectrum. She said she was encouraged by the growing number of cross-party lawmakers in Italy willing to engage with and support Taiwan, noting that these face-to-face exchanges were translating into deeper cooperation.
The visit also included roundtable discussions with academics from Sapienza University of Rome and the University of Siena, as well as researchers from the Institute of International Affairs think tank. Topics ranged from supply chain security and Taiwan-EU relations to the current situation in the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan's International Profile Extends Beyond Security Concerns
Tsai used the Rome visit to make a broader argument about how the world perceives Taiwan. She said international understanding of the island has moved well beyond geopolitics and cross-strait tensions, and that Taiwan is increasingly recognized for its contributions to democratic governance, technology development, supply chain resilience, and women's leadership.
The Global Women Leaders Summit itself brought together current and former female heads of state and government alongside a younger generation of political and civil society leaders. Discussions centered on artificial intelligence, climate change, digital governance, and how collective female leadership can help build a safer and more trustworthy digital future.
Tsai also met with Taiwanese students and entrepreneurs based in Italy, exchanging views on overseas study, cultural outreach, and Taiwan's international engagement strategy.
"Taiwan's journey toward the world is not something that happens overnight," Tsai said. "Every visit, every conversation, every handshake — they all help the world understand Taiwan's importance. Taiwan will continue to step forward, steadily and with confidence, to face common challenges together with the world."
