Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim used a national prayer breakfast to argue Taiwan has friends abroad and can weather economic, climate, and geopolitical pressure — a reassuring message for Taiwan, delivered against the backdrop of Chinese pressure.

• Hsiao and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung visited Italy's Ventotene island last week for a European freedom and democracy forum; a local priest opened the church to the delegation and prayed for Taiwan's strength and peace.
• She named three big challenges: a free-trade system under strain as countries use economic dependence as a weapon, extreme weather and disasters, and a world still torn by war and great-power rivalry.
• Taiwan's answer is resilience — chips, AI, and advanced tech give it a path through the trade shake-up, and citizen volunteers ("shovel superheroes") show its strength after disasters.
• Her message: facing pressure, Taiwan chooses courage, preparation, and shared responsibility, and wants the world to see it as more than a geopolitical headline.
• Asked whether reports that China sent people to gather intelligence on the trip would affect future Europe travel plans, she only said the trip went smoothly.

Outlook: Taiwan will keep leaning on quiet diplomacy and outreach to Europe to show it has international support, while China's shadowing of such trips remains a live concern.