TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), Taiwan's first female president who completed her second term in office earlier this month, began a high-profile European tour on May 9, making stops in Lithuania and Denmark to bolster relationships with democratic partners. Tsai is scheduled to address the prestigious 8th Copenhagen Democracy Summit in Denmark, running from Tuesday through Wednesday, before continuing to the United Kingdom for meetings with political figures and academic institutions.
Tsai Shu-ching (蔡舒景), spokesperson for the former president's office, confirmed that Tsai will travel to the United Kingdom following her engagements in Denmark. The visit comes at the invitation of parliamentary allies in Britain, where the former leader will meet with key political figures and representatives from prominent research institutions. The spokesperson emphasized that Taiwan and the U.K. share fundamental values including democracy, freedom, and human rights, framing the trip as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations.
Tsai Shu-ching further noted that Taiwan-UK relations have advanced considerably during Tsai Ing-wen's eight-year presidency, with notable progress in trade, technology, education, and cultural exchanges. This European visit represents the former president's first international trip since leaving office and serves as a continuation of her diplomatic efforts to expand Taiwan's international space amid ongoing pressure from China, which claims the self-governed island as its territory.
During her stop in Lithuania, the first leg of her European journey, Tsai addressed an audience at the historic Vilnius University and held substantive discussions with former Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė. The visit highlights the growing partnership between Taiwan and Lithuania, which has deepened significantly since 2021 when the Baltic nation allowed Taiwan to open a representative office using its own name, a move that drew sharp economic retaliation from Beijing. ★
