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Taiwan Is Not Alone, Vice President Says After Breakthrough Europe Trip

A view of the Taipei skyline with clouds hanging over distant mountains, seen from across the Tamsui River in Taipei, Taiwan, November 8, 2025. (Reuters)
A view of the Taipei skyline with clouds hanging over distant mountains, seen from across the Tamsui River in Taipei, Taiwan, November 8, 2025. (Reuters)
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Taiwan Is Not Alone, Vice President Says After Breakthrough Europe Trip

A view of the Taipei skyline with clouds hanging over distant mountains, seen from across the Tamsui River in Taipei, Taiwan, November 8, 2025. (Reuters)
A view of the Taipei skyline with clouds hanging over distant mountains, seen from across the Tamsui River in Taipei, Taiwan, November 8, 2025. (Reuters)

Taiwan is not alone and has more and more friends around the world and will continue to show the world its resolve, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim said on Sunday after returning from a landmark diplomatic-breakthrough trip to Europe.

While Taiwan foreign ministers on occasion visit Europe and other parts of the world that have no formal ties to Chinese-claimed Taipei, it is rare for an official as senior as the vice president to do so, given the risk of backlash from Beijing against the host nation.

Hsiao spoke at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China's annual summit, held in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Hsiao, speaking at the airport upon returning home, said Taiwan's international situation has been extremely difficult but Taiwan has never backed down, because it should have the chance to participate in the international community.

"Taiwan is not alone. We have more and more like-minded friends around the world who are willing to walk with us," she said.

"And we will continue, with confidence, pragmatism, and firm steps, to show the world Taiwan's resolve, goodwill, and the power of our democracy."

China refuses to speak to President Lai Ching-te and his administration, saying he is a "separatist".

China's mission to the European Union condemned Hsiao's visit, saying it was a serious interference in China's internal affairs, and severely undermined political mutual trust between China and the EU.

China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced use of force to "reunify" with the island. Taiwan's government says it has the right to engage with other countries and that China has no right to claim the island or to dictate Taipei's actions.

Former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen is visiting Berlin to address a conference this week.

Writing on her Facebook page late Saturday before leaving, Tsai said Hsiao going to Brussels was of "extraordinary significance for Taiwan".

"As President Lai Ching-te has stated, Taiwan stands as a trusted partner in the international community. We will steadfastly stand with Europe and other like-minded partners."

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World

Swiss Will Not Export War Equipment to US during Mideast Conflict

A member of ground crew moves munitions towards a USAF B1 B bomber at RAF Fairford airbase, used by USAF personnel, amid the US–Israeli conflict with Iran, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, March 11, 2026. REUTERS/Phil Noble
A member of ground crew moves munitions towards a USAF B1 B bomber at RAF Fairford airbase, used by USAF personnel, amid the US–Israeli conflict with Iran, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, March 11, 2026. REUTERS/Phil Noble
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Swiss Will Not Export War Equipment to US during Mideast Conflict

A member of ground crew moves munitions towards a USAF B1 B bomber at RAF Fairford airbase, used by USAF personnel, amid the US–Israeli conflict with Iran, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, March 11, 2026. REUTERS/Phil Noble
A member of ground crew moves munitions towards a USAF B1 B bomber at RAF Fairford airbase, used by USAF personnel, amid the US–Israeli conflict with Iran, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, March 11, 2026. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Switzerland decided Friday it will not authorize the export of war materiel to the United States during the Middle East conflict, in line with its long-standing principle of military neutrality.

Switzerland has already refused US requests for flights over its territory since the war erupted on February 28 when the United States and Israel began attacks on Iran.

Following that decision, on Friday the Swiss government looked at applying neutrality to exports to states involved in the war.

"The export of war materiel to countries involved in the international armed conflict with Iran cannot be authorized for the duration of the conflict," said a government statement, AFP reported.

"Existing licences and exports of other goods will now be regularly reviewed by an interdepartmental group of experts, particularly with regard to their compatibility with neutrality.

"Exports of war materiel to the USA cannot currently be authorized," and existing US licences will now face regular review, it said, whilst adding that Switzerland has not issued war materiel export licences to Israel or Iran for years.

Since the conflict started, no new licences have been issued for exports of war goods to the United States, Bern said.

Existing US licences "have been determined to be of no relevance to the war at present and can therefore continue to be used", the statement said.

Nevertheless, an expert group drawn from the foreign, defense and economy ministries will regularly review developments in exports of the goods in question to the United States, and assess whether any action is required.

Swiss neutrality traces its roots back to 1516 and has been internationally recognized since 1815.

World

Trump Mulls Kharg Island Takeover to Force Iran to Open Hormuz Strait, Axios Reports

This handout image taken by the European Space Agency (ESA) captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite shows a view of Iran's Kharg Island, which hosts the country's main crude export terminal and is responsible for the overwhelming majority of its oil shipments to the world, about 30 kilometers south of the mainland in the north of the Gulf, on March 17, 2026. (Photo by EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY / AFP)
This handout image taken by the European Space Agency (ESA) captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite shows a view of Iran's Kharg Island, which hosts the country's main crude export terminal and is responsible for the overwhelming majority of its oil shipments to the world, about 30 kilometers south of the mainland in the north of the Gulf, on March 17, 2026. (Photo by EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY / AFP)
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Trump Mulls Kharg Island Takeover to Force Iran to Open Hormuz Strait, Axios Reports

This handout image taken by the European Space Agency (ESA) captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite shows a view of Iran's Kharg Island, which hosts the country's main crude export terminal and is responsible for the overwhelming majority of its oil shipments to the world, about 30 kilometers south of the mainland in the north of the Gulf, on March 17, 2026. (Photo by EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY / AFP)
This handout image taken by the European Space Agency (ESA) captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite shows a view of Iran's Kharg Island, which hosts the country's main crude export terminal and is responsible for the overwhelming majority of its oil shipments to the world, about 30 kilometers south of the mainland in the north of the Gulf, on March 17, 2026. (Photo by EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY / AFP)

The Trump administration is considering plans to ‌occupy ‌or blockade ‌Iran's ⁠Kharg Island to pressure ⁠Iran to reopen ⁠the ‌Strait ‌of Hormuz, ‌Axios reported ‌on Friday, citing ‌four sources with knowledge ⁠of ⁠the issue.

Amid the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran, the confrontation has expanded from direct airstrikes to an explicit threat against oil infrastructure, after Washington announced it had struck military targets on Kharg Island.

Kharg Island is located about 15 miles off Iran’s coast in the Arabian Gulf. It serves as the primary oil terminal for about 90–95% of Iran's crude oil exports.

The Washington Post said that weakening the Kharg Island would carry significant strategic advantages for the United States, given its economic and military importance and its direct link to Tehran’s ability to export oil and finance its institutions, including the payment of military salaries.

World

Running App Reveals Location of France Aircraft Carrier in Mediterranean

French President Emmanuel Macron (C) visits the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, deployed to the Mediterranean following Iranian drone strikes on Cyprus on the Mediterranean Sea, on March 9, 2026, on the sidelines of his trip to Cyprus to discuss regional security. (Photo by Gonzalo Fuentes / POOL / AFP)
French President Emmanuel Macron (C) visits the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, deployed to the Mediterranean following Iranian drone strikes on Cyprus on the Mediterranean Sea, on March 9, 2026, on the sidelines of his trip to Cyprus to discuss regional security. (Photo by Gonzalo Fuentes / POOL / AFP)
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Running App Reveals Location of France Aircraft Carrier in Mediterranean

French President Emmanuel Macron (C) visits the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, deployed to the Mediterranean following Iranian drone strikes on Cyprus on the Mediterranean Sea, on March 9, 2026, on the sidelines of his trip to Cyprus to discuss regional security. (Photo by Gonzalo Fuentes / POOL / AFP)
French President Emmanuel Macron (C) visits the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, deployed to the Mediterranean following Iranian drone strikes on Cyprus on the Mediterranean Sea, on March 9, 2026, on the sidelines of his trip to Cyprus to discuss regional security. (Photo by Gonzalo Fuentes / POOL / AFP)

A member of the French navy using an app to track his jogging performance broadcast the exact position of his country's flagship aircraft carrier, a newspaper has reported.

France deployed the Charles de Gaulle -- and accompanying frigates -- to the Mediterranean in early March shortly after US-Israeli strikes on Iran sparked war in the Middle East.

It has been in the eastern Mediterranean since March 9 as part of what Emmanuel Macron has called a "purely defensive" posture in support of France's allies in the conflict.

Le Monde newspaper reported on Thursday that the runner jogged in circles on a ship in movement on March 13 in the middle of the sea northwest of Cyprus, according to his public profile on the Strava fitness tracking app, while satellite images showed the aircraft carrier was in the immediate vicinity at the time.

The same person had also been running in Copenhagen, Denmark, in late February, across a bridge from Malmo, Sweden, where the Charles de Gaulle was anchored at the time, Strava data showed.

The French armed forces told AFP appropriate measures would be taken if the report was true, as members of the navy were regularly reminded about the risk of security breaches using such apps.

"The reported case -- if confirmed -- does not comply with the current instructions," it said.

Running app profiles have given away sensitive information before.