TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Danish Social Democrats will make a rare appearance in a cross-party trip to Taiwan, defying a confrontational letter from Beijing.

In July, Danish MEP Anders Vistisen of the right-wing Danish People’s Party visited Taiwan, spurring anger from Beijing. China’s mission to the EU sent him a personal letter condemning the trip, declaring “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition,” and describing Taiwan as a “core interest” and “a red line that must not be crossed,” per Berlingske.

Several other EU politicians in Vistisen’s delegation reportedly received similar letters, some even before the July trip. Despite this, another Danish delegation, this time led by members of the Social Democrats, is set to visit the country on Nov. 20.

The trip will include lawmakers from the Danish People’s Party and the Conservative People's Party, but will be headed by Social Democratic MP Kasper Roug, the party’s emergency preparedness spokesperson and vice chair of the Danish Parliamentarians’ Taiwan Association. This marks only the second time Social Democratic MPs have taken part, and a total of four members of the party will participate.

“China has intensified its hardline stance toward the democratic country Taiwan. And we feel a strong connection to it. A small democracy pitted against a powerful adversary,” Roug told Berlingske. Although Denmark’s official one-China policy does not recognize Taiwan as a country, Roug said he considers it a country, but emphasized that he speaks on his own behalf and not on his party’s.

In the letter, China’s EU representative accused Vistisen of supporting “separatist forces” working for Taiwanese independence and said his delegation had sent “seriously wrong signals.” Vistisen fired back with his own letter, calling China “a communist dictatorship whose history is marked by atrocities,” and praising Taiwan’s democracy.

Roug uses less confrontational language toward Beijing, but he is a strong advocate for Taiwan’s democracy. He said the delegation hopes to learn from Taiwan’s experience resisting Chinese “hybrid warfare” and combating disinformation.

Experts say the Social Democrats’ participation marks a notable shift. Andreas Boje Forsby, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, called the move “surprising,” pointing out that the party has avoided such trips for several years.

Both Vistisen and Roug say there is a common thread running through opposition to Russia and support for Taiwan, accusing Beijing of enabling Moscow’s war through economic, technological, and political support. China’s EU mission, however, urged Danish lawmakers to halt “any form of official contact with the Taiwanese authorities.”

Roug showed no intention of backing down. “I am not worried about China’s reaction,” he said. “Their threats only make me more determined in my support for Taiwan. I think it’s important not to be intimidated,” he said.