Brussels, Nov. 9 -- Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, in a speech at the European Parliament, called for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, warning that China's attempts to alter the status quo run counter to international consensus, Focus Taiwan reported.

China, meanwhile, has expressed firm opposition to Hsiao's speech, which also marks the first-ever address by a senior member of the Taiwanese Government in a foreign parliament.

Incidentally, the only European country that has official diplomatic relations with Taiwan is the Vatican, which is not a member of the European Union.

In her address to the group of international lawmakers, Hsiao said, "Peace in the Taiwan Strait is essential to global stability and economic...