Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim’s (蕭美琴) recent trip to Brussels and her address to the European Parliament were facilitated by the EU and the Belgian government, and were not linked to any “quid pro quo,” the organizers said on Sunday.
The invitation to attend the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) summit and to address the European Parliament was “freely” extended to Hsiao, IPAC said.
Hsiao on Friday gave a speech titled “Taiwan: A Trusted Partner in a Volatile World.”
Photo: AP
It was the first time a Taiwanese vice president visited a non-allied country and spoke to its parliament, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Rumors have surfaced online since Hsiao’s historic trip, including allegations that she was only invited because the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, a non-governmental organization funded by the ministry to promote democracy in the region, gave money to IPAC.
IPAC founder and executive director Luke de Pulford rejected the rumors, saying they were “completely fabricated.”
“This is fake news. Our cochairs freely invited the vice president, and she graciously and freely accepted. That is all there is to it,” he said in a statement. “IPAC is not supported by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, and the notion that a donation or pledge was made by anybody in exchange for this invitation is ludicrous. We are proud to have made the event possible.”
De Pulford also dispelled rumors that the EU and Belgium were unaware that Hsiao would be speaking at the IPAC summit.
“The President of the European Parliament, the European External Action Service and the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs were fully aware of the visit, and we are grateful to all of them for their assistance,” he said.
The Presidential Office said it asked law enforcement authorities to probe the “fabricated content” circulating online, and urged the public not to repost false information.
The Criminal Investigation Bureau yesterday said it would investigate the source of the “fake news” that said Taiwan “bought” its way into speaking at the summit.
Freedom of speech is protected under the law, but disseminating fake information, malicious rumors and messages that incite fear are not, the National Police Agency said.
The agency said it would investigate the rumors in accordance with Article 63 of the Social Order Maintenance Act (社會秩序維護法), which states, “spreading rumors in a way that is sufficient to undermine public order and peace” is a punishable offense.
People should verify things they see online and avoid sharing any false information, the agency added.
Additional reporting by Yao Yueh-hung
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