TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Italian Senate Vice President Gian Marco Centinaio expressed solidarity with Taiwan and Japan amid China’s ramped-up threats in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding region.
In a Facebook post published on Friday (Sept. 27), Centinaio noted increased Chinese military activity in the strait and pointed out the intrusion of Japan’s air defense identification zone by a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft in August. “In the face of this escalation, I renew my solidarity and proximity to the governments and people of Taiwan and Japan,” he said.
The senator highlighted the importance of Indo-Pacific security from a geopolitical and economic point of view. It also ensures the values of freedom and democracy are protected, he said.
He called on the West to “strengthen every diplomatic initiative to maintain peace and status quo in Taipei and to thwart military actions from China.”
Centinaio has made two trips to Taiwan. In 2023, he led a delegation to Taiwan for the first time as senate vice president. In his meeting with then-President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), Centinaio said Taiwan and Italy have a close friendship and are important cooperative partners. He hoped bilateral ties would not be limited to economics alone but would extend to culture and politics.
Centinaio also attended President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) inauguration ceremony in May.