Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) on Friday completed his European trip in Vienna, where he attended a concert by Representative to Austria Liu Suan-yung (劉玄詠) at the Viennese Music Association’s Brahms Saal.
Lin attended the concert in a “private” capacity, and met with representatives from business, politics and the cultural industry at a reception before the concert, Austrian public broadcaster ORF and daily Die Presse reported.
Representatives include members of the Austrian parliament from the People’s Party, Neos and the Green Party, as well as the ambassadors of Japan and the Czech Republic, Die Presse reported.
Photo: Ling Mei-hsueh, Taipei Times
Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (王毅) had visited Austria earlier this month and met with Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen, and Austrian Minister for European and International Affairs Beate Meinl-Reisinger. Lin’s visit took place less than a week after Wang’s departure from the Austrian capital.
Lin’s trip was the first visit by a high-ranking Taiwanese official in decades, and he attended a concert by Liu, a well-known trombonist who had studied in Vienna, ORF reported.
The concert, titled “When East Meets West,” was part of the “Taiwan Culture in Europe 2025” initiative launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture earlier this year.
Photo: Ling Mei-hsueh, Taipei Times
In addition to Liu, Vienna Philharmonic trombonist Dietmar Kublbock, Vienna Symphony trombonist Walter Voglmayr, University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna professor Otmar Gaiswinkler and Hakka bayin troupes performed at the event.
Hsinchu County Commissioner Yang Wen-ke (楊文科) traveled to Vienna with three Hakka bayin musical troupes — TienWu BeiGuan BaYin Troupe (田屋北管八音團), Hsinchu Beipu Bayin Troupe (新竹北埔八音團) and BrassMen (銅好重奏團).
Lin wanted to keep a low profile about his itinerary beforehand to avoid China’s intervention, but Beijing still exerted “strong pressure” on Austrian authorities before the concert to limit his visibility, Die Presse reported.
The Austrian government emphasized the “purely private nature” of Lin’s trip, Die Presse reported.
Lin did not meet with Austrian government officials, but his presence was enough to irritate Beijing, it reported.
The concert in Vienna served as a “soft diplomatic offensive” for Taiwan, it added.
Additional reporting by Ling Mei-Hsueh
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