Behind the Scenes: Tsai Ing-wen's Strategic Avoidance of One Key Country Amid Frequent Overseas Trips

Former President Tsai Ing-wen traveled to Italy in late June 2024, first attending the 'Global Women Leaders Summit' (GWLS) hosted by former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the renowned lakeside resort town of Bellagio, on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy. Subsequently, Tsai made a 'stopover visit' to Rome, the capital of Italy, where she toured the Italian Senate accompanied by Senate Vice President Gian Marco Centinaio and met with several ruling and opposition members of both the Senate and Chamber of Deputies.

Since stepping down as president in May 2024, Tsai has made four trips to Europe in just over two years, visiting eight European countries. She continues to operate on the front lines, working to open diplomatic space for the succeeding administration of President Lai Qingde. Tsai has effectively become Taiwan's 'most powerful diplomat,' frequently navigating European diplomatic circles—not aimlessly, nor freely choosing destinations.

In reality, while Tsai actively builds Taiwan's diplomatic network across Europe, she has notably and deliberately avoided one particularly important country.