The lower house of the Italian Parliament says Italy’s government needs to face up to the possibility that China could invade Taiwan. In a landslide vote on Wednesday, lawmakers in the Italian Chamber of Deputies backed a motion calling on authorities in Rome to pay more attention to the Indo-Pacific.
In the text of the motion, Italian lawmaker Paolo Formentini says it is “not impossible” that China could invade Taiwan. The motion says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has posed a challenge to international order, and that could encourage China to attack.
Speaking at the parliament, Formentini emphasized Taiwan’s example as a democratic country and as a leading manufacturer of semiconductors.
A vast majority of the 417 legislators voted in favor of the proposal, with support crossing party lines. The vote included those of left-wing parties that typically lean towards supporting China.
The motion called for Italy’s government to work with NATO and the EU to review its policy towards the Indo-Pacific region.