Hsiao Bi-khim

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Hsiao Bi-khim

| native_name = {{nobold|蕭美琴}}

| native_name_lang = zh-tw

| honorific-suffix =

| image = 蕭美琴副總統 1.jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 2024

| office1 = 13th Vice President of the Republic of China

| president1 = Lai Ching-te

| term_start1 = 20 May 2024

| term_end1 =

| predecessor1 = Lai Ching-te

| office2 = 15th Representative of Taiwan to the United States

| president2 = Tsai Ing-wen

| status2 =

| term_start2 = 20 July 2020

| term_end2 = 30 November 2023

| predecessor2 = Stanley Kao

| successor2 = Alexander Yui

| office3 = Member of the Legislative Yuan

| term_start3 = 1 February 2012

| term_end3 = 31 January 2020

| predecessor3 = Wang Ting-son (9th)

| successor3 = Fu Kun-chi (9th)

| constituency3 = Hualien County (9th)
Party-list (8th)

| term_start4 = 1 February 2002

| term_end4 = 1 February 2008

| predecessor4 =

| constituency4 = Taipei 1 (6th)
Overseas (5th)

| birth_name = Bi-Khim Louise Hsiao

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1971|8|7}}

| birth_place = Kobe, Japan

| death_date =

| death_place =

| citizenship = Taiwan
United States (until 2002)

| party = Democratic Progressive Party

| education = Oberlin College (BA)
Columbia University (MA)

| module = {{Infobox Chinese |child = yes

|t = 蕭美琴

|s= 萧美琴

|p = Xiāo Měiqín

|w = {{tone superscript|Hsiao1 Mei3-ch'in2}}

|mi = {{IPAc-cmn|x|iao|1|-|m|ei|3|.|q|in|2}}

|bpmf = ㄒㄧㄠㄇㄟˇ ㄑㄧㄣˊ

|poj =Siau Bí-khîm

|j = }}

}}

Hsiao Bi-khim{{efn|Her surname is transcribed in Mandarin (Wade-Giles) and her forename is transcribed in Taiwanese (Tâi-lô).}}{{efn|{{lang-zh|t=蕭美琴|p=Xiāo Měiqín|poj=Siau Bí-khîm|w= {{tone superscript|Hsiao1 Mei3-ch'in2}}}}}} (born Bi-khim Louise Hsiao; 7 August 1971) is a Taiwanese politician and diplomat who has been the 13th and current vice president of the Republic of China since 2024, serving under President Lai Ching-te. She is Taiwan's first biracial vice president. She was the Taiwanese representative to the United States from 2020 to 2023, and formerly served as a legislator of the Legislative Yuan from 2002 to 2008 and again between 2012 and 2020.

Born in Kōbe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, to a Taiwanese father and an American mother, Hsiao grew up in Tainan, Taiwan, before moving to the United States, where she graduated from Oberlin College and earned a master's degree in political science from Columbia University. A member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP),{{cite web | title = 蕭美琴 (Hsiao Bi-khim') | work = 第６屆立法委員個人資料 (6th Legislative Yuan Personal Info) | publisher = ROC Legislative Yuan | url = http://npl.ly.gov.tw/do/www/commissionerInfo?id=981&expireBack=06&expire=06&act=exp&keyword=%BF%BD%AC%FC%B5^&partyName=%A5%C1%A5D%B6i%A8B%C4%D2&orderBy=name&nameOrder=true&eleDisOrder=false | language=zh | access-date = 2008-04-07}} she is an important figure in the party's foreign policy circles.{{Cite web |date=2002-07-21 |title=DPP hoping new blood will rejuvenate party - Taipei Times |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/07/21/0000149096 |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=www.taipeitimes.com}} She formerly served as a vice president of Liberal International.{{cite web | title = Vice President | work = Members > People | publisher = Liberal International | url = http://www.liberal-international.org/editorial.asp?ia_id=529 | access-date = 2008-04-06 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071109213629/http://www.liberal-international.org/editorial.asp?ia_id=529 | archive-date = 2007-11-09 }}

Early life and education

Hsiao was born on 7 August 1971 in Kōbe, Japan. Her father Hsiao Ching-fen is Taiwanese while her mother Peggy Cooley is American. Hsiao's maternal family's presence in the United States dates back to the Mayflower (1620).{{Cite news |last=de Changy |first=Florence |date=2024-01-12 |title=Hsiao Bi-khim: Taiwan's vice-presidential candidate, friend of the United States and adversary of China |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/01/12/hsiao-bi-khim-taiwan-s-vice-presidential-candidate-friend-of-the-united-states-and-adversary-of-china_6427512_4.html |access-date=2024-01-14 |work=Le Monde.fr |language=en}}

Hsiao grew up in the city of Tainan in southern Taiwan. She spoke Mandarin, Taiwanese Hokkien, and English, and was raised in a Presbyterian family.{{cite news |date=September 30, 2020 |title=美國之音專文報導美學者大讚蕭美琴實在令人印象深刻 |trans-title=Voice of America exclusive report: American scholars highly praise Hsiao Bi-khim, truly impressive. |url=https://www.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/2080992 |website=RTI}}{{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Weifeng |date=June 23, 2014 |title=跟上美國蕭美琴籲長老教會包容同性婚姻 |trans-title=Hsiao Bi-khim urges Presbyterian Church to follow the US in tolerating same-sex marriage. |url=https://www.storm.mg/article/32609 |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=The Storm Media}}{{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Zijin |date=January 19, 2016 |title=翻轉花蓮：蕭美琴VS.傅崐萁的戰爭 |trans-title=Turning Hualien Around: The War Between Hsiao Bi-khim and Fu Kun-chi. |url=https://www.twreporter.org/a/2016election-hualien |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=The Reporter}} She moved to the United States as a teenager and graduated from Montclair High School in Montclair, New Jersey.{{cite news |title=蕭美琴（女） |url=http://big5.china.com.cn/zhuanti2005/txt/2005-11/04/content_5916471.htm |website=Big5 |date=June 16, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616072535/http://big5.china.com.cn/zhuanti2005/txt/2005-11/04/content_5916471.htm |archive-date=16 June 2009 |url-status=dead}} Hsiao graduated from Oberlin College in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian studies. She then did graduate study in political science at Columbia University and received a Master of Arts in 1995.{{cite web | title = Personal Profile | publisher = 立法委員蕭美琴虛擬服務處 (Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim's website) | language=zh | url = http://www.bikhim.com/2005/chinese/internet/about/about1.asp | access-date = 2008-04-06}}{{cite web | title = A Brief Biography | publisher = 立法委員蕭美琴虛擬服務處 (Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim's website) | url = http://www.bikhim.com/2005/english/about/about1.htm | access-date = 2008-04-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302025237/http://www.bikhim.com/2005/english/about/about1.htm|archive-date=March 2, 2013}} Hsiao stayed at Columbia to pursue a doctorate in political science and was recruited to establish an office for the DPP in Washington, D.C.{{Cite web |title=Oberlin Alumni Magazine |url=https://www2.oberlin.edu/alummag/oamcurrent/oam_august99/hsiao.html |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=www2.oberlin.edu}} She ultimately left the university's Ph.D. program in order to return to Taiwan during its 1996 presidential election.{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Adam |date=October 15, 2020 |title=Would the U.S. protect Taiwan from China? Taiwan's new envoy hopes for 'clarity.' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/10/15/taiwan-china-trump-tensions/ |access-date=28 November 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

Entry into politics

In the United States, Hsiao became active with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) representative office in the US, serving as an activity coordinator. On returning to Taiwan, Hsiao became the party's international affairs director, and represented the party at various international conferences for over a decade.

After Chen Shui-bian took office as the President of the Republic of China in 2000, Hsiao served as his interpreter and advisor for nearly two years. Her dual US and Republic of China (Taiwan) citizenship while she was holding a government position became an issue, and she renounced her US citizenship in 2002, as required by the Civil Servants Employment Law passed in 2000.{{cite news | last = Lin | first = Mei-chun | title = Legislators pass resolution on citizenship | newspaper = Taipei Times | page = 3 | date = 7 Dec 2000 | url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2000/12/07/64480}}{{citation |author=Internal Revenue Service |title=Quarterly Publication of Individuals, Who Have Chosen To Expatriate, as Required by Section 6039G |date=22 July 2002 |work=Federal Register |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2002/07/22/02-18326/quarterly-publication-of-individuals-who-have-chosen-to-expatriate-as-required-by-section-6039g |access-date=2025-05-27}}

Legislative career

File:第六屆立法委員蕭美琴.jpg.]]

In January 2001, Hsiao announced her intention to run for the Legislative Yuan on the DPP ticket as a supplementary member representing overseas constituencies, citing her experience in international relations.{{Citation | last = Lin | first = Mei-chun | title = Hsiao Bi-khim to run for legislature| newspaper = The Taipei Times | pages = 3 | date = 2001-01-14 | url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2001/01/14/69710}} She was subsequently elected in December the same year.

In the legislative elections of December 2004, Hsiao was reelected to the Legislative Yuan representing Taipei's first constituency, covering the northern districts of Xinyi, Songshan, Nangang, Neihu, Shilin, and Beitou. As a legislator, she served on the Foreign and Overseas Affairs Committee (外交及僑務委員會), the Procedure Committee (程序委員會), and the Discipline Committee (紀律委員會).

Hsiao worked on a number of issues in the legislature, notably women's rights, the rights of foreigners in Taiwan, and other human rights. Hsiao supported amending the Nationality Law to allow individuals born to at least one parent of ROC nationality to also claim ROC nationality irrespective of age,{{Citation | last = Hong | first = Caroline | title = Legislator to push for changes in nationality law | newspaper = The Taipei Times | pages = 2 | date = 2004-06-25 | url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/06/25/2003176415}} and has also proposed and cosponsored anti-discrimination and anti-domestic violence amendments to the Immigration Act.{{Citation | last1 = Mo | first1 = Yan-chih | last2 = Loa | first2 = Lok-sin | title = Law change to aid migrant spouses | newspaper = The Taipei Times | pages = 1 | date = 2007-12-01 | url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2007/12/01/2003390617}} She has also been a proponent of animal rights, proposing amendments to the Animal Protection Act,{{Citation | last = Wang | first = Flora | title = Lawmakers pass overhaul of law on animal rights | newspaper = The Taipei Times | pages = 1 | date = 2007-12-15 | url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2007/12/15/2003392585}} and also pushed for the passage of the Sexual Harassment Prevention Act in January 2005.{{Citation | last = Mo | first = Yan-chih | title = Women's groups celebrate passage of harassment act | newspaper = The Taipei Times | pages = 3 | date = 2005-01-15 | url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/01/15/2003219584}}

In May 2005, Hsiao represented the DPP at the annual congress of Liberal International in Sofia, Bulgaria, during which she was elected a vice-president of the organization. Hsiao alleged that she and other DPP representatives were followed throughout their visit to Bulgaria by two unidentified persons sent by the People's Republic of China embassy in Sofia.{{Citation | last = Huang | first = Jewel | title = Hsiao Bi-khim denounces Chinese antics at LI meet | newspaper = The Taipei Times | pages = 4 | date = 2005-05-18 | url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/05/18/2003255462}}

The same month, Hsiao also started a campaign to encourage Taiwanese baseball fans to write e-mails to the New York Yankees to ask them to keep Taiwanese pitcher Chien-Ming Wang at the major league level.{{Citation | title = Wang could be demoted when Wright returns | newspaper = Associated Press | date = 2005-05-30 | url = https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2072083}}

Hsiao was one of the DPP lawmakers targeted by some party supporters as being insufficiently loyal, with a pro-independence radio show dubbing her "Chinese Khim" (中國琴) in March 2007, charging that she was close to the DPP's former New Tide faction.{{Citation | last = Wang | first = Flora | title = 'Eliminated' DPP legislator questions party's values | newspaper = The Taipei Times | pages = 4 | date = 2007-03-06 | url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/03/06/2003351162}} Defended by some other DPP members, Hsiao was still not nominated to stand for re-election by the DPP in the January 2008 legislative elections,{{Citation | last = Wang | first = Flora | title = DPP members cull New Tide and 'bandits' | newspaper = The Taipei Times | pages = 3 | date = 2007-05-08 | url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/05/08/2003359984}} a move some attributed to being the result of that controversy.{{Citation|last=Chen |first=Fang-ming |title=DPP needs a new way of defining localization |newspaper=The Taipei Times |pages=8 |date=2008-01-16 |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2008/01/16/2003397519 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526081201/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2008/01/16/2003397519 |archive-date=May 26, 2008 }}

Hsiao left the Legislative Yuan after her term expired on 31 January 2008. She served as spokesperson for Frank Hsieh's unsuccessful 2008 presidential campaign.{{Citation | last1 = Wang | first1 = Flora | last2 = Ko | first2= Shu-ling | last3= Hsu | first3= Jenny W. | title = Taiwan could be a second Tibet: Hsieh | newspaper = The Taipei Times | pages = 1 | date = 2008-03-18 | url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2008/03/18/2003406005}} She is also vice chairman of the Taiwan Tibet Exchange Foundation,{{cite web | title = 副董事長-蕭美琴 (Vice Chairman – Hsiao Bi-khim) | publisher = Taiwan Tibet Exchange Foundation | url = http://www.ttef.org.tw/session4/session4-2.htm | language = zh | access-date = 2008-04-07 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090405114229/http://www.ttef.org.tw/session4/session4-2.htm | archive-date = 2009-04-05 }} a member of the board of trustees of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy,{{cite web | title =About TFD – Governance and Structure | publisher = Taiwan Foundation for Democracy | url = http://www.tfd.org.tw/english/about.php?id=en0103 | access-date = 2008-04-07}} a member of the executive committee of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats,{{cite news | last = Chang | first = Yun-ping | title = It's safe to vote for Chen, liberals say | pages = 1 | publisher = The Taipei Times | date = 2004-03-06 | url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/03/06/2003101320}} and a founding member of the Taiwan Association for Women in Sport (台灣女子體育運動協會).{{cite web|title=About TWS |language=zh |publisher=Taiwan Association for Women in Sport |url=http://www.taws.org.tw/taws.htm |access-date=2015-02-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050825090751/http://www.taws.org.tw/taws.htm |archive-date=August 25, 2005 }}

From 2010, Hsiao spent a decade representing the DPP in Hualien County, a strongly pro-Kuomintang conservative region. In the same year, she lost with a slim minority in a by-election, but was still regarded as having broken the "iron vote" of the Kuomintang.{{cite web|title=Who Is Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's De Facto Ambassador to the US? |language=en| publisher=The News Lens |url=https://international.thenewslens.com/article/136548 |access-date=2022-01-28| date=2020-06-17|author=Syrena Lin }} She then set up a Hualien service office, and continued making weekly journeys between Taipei and Hualien.

File:台灣立法院4月24號召開的外交及國防委員會.jpg

Hsiao returned to the Legislative Yuan in February 2012, elected via party list proportional representation. In 2016, Hsiao succeeded Wang Ting-son as legislator for Hualien County. In 2018, an unsuccessful recall campaign was organized against Hsiao because of her strong support for same-sex marriage legalization. Hsiao did not yield to pressure, and continued to speak out for Hualien Pride. In August 2019, she received the Democratic Progressive Party nomination to run for another term in Hualien County.{{cite news |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |title=DPP announces names of five legislative candidates, but snubs Wang Shih-chien |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/08/22/2003720931 |access-date=22 August 2019 |work=Taipei Times |date=22 August 2019}} She lost her seat to Fu Kun-chi in the 2020 legislative elections.{{cite news |last1=Chang |first1=Chi |last2=Liu |first2=Kuan-ting |last3=Mazzetta |first3=Matthew |title=2020 ELECTIONS / Young candidates, underdogs prevail in several legislative races |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202001120003 |access-date=12 January 2020 |agency=Central News Agency |date=12 January 2020}}

Diplomatic career

File:Bi-khim Hsiao 20230814.jpg

Hsiao stepped down from the Legislative Yuan upon the end of her term in 2020, and was subsequently named an adviser to the National Security Council in March 2020. That June, Hsiao was appointed Taiwan's representative to the United States. She succeeded Stanley Kao, and was the first woman to assume the role.{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Christie |title=Hsiao Bi-khim appointed Taiwan's representative to U.S. |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202006160029 |access-date=16 June 2020 |agency=Central News Agency |date=16 June 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Chiang |first1=Chin-yeh |last2=Hsu |first2=Wei-ting |last3=Chen |first3=Yun-yu |last4=Chiang |first4=Yi-ching |title=New representative to the U.S. an 'excellent choice': experts |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202006170006 |access-date=17 June 2020 |agency=Central News Agency |date=17 June 2020}} Hsiao was sworn in to the office on 20 July 2020.{{cite news |last1=Shan |first1=Shelley |title=No room for failure: new envoy to US |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/07/21/2003740279 |access-date=21 July 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=21 July 2020}}

On 20 January 2021, Hsiao was officially invited to and attended the inauguration of US President Joe Biden, the first time Taiwan's US representative had officially attended a US presidential inauguration since the US broke off diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979. Standing in front of the US Capitol at the inauguration, she said "Democracy is our common language and freedom is our common objective."{{cite web |title= Taiwan represented at US presidential inauguration for 1st time since 1979 |date=21 January 2020 |publisher=Taiwan News |url= https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4107807}}

On Taiwan National Day 2021, Hsiao threw the ceremonial first pitch before a New York Mets game, celebrating the 16th annual Mets Taiwan Day.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-22 |title=Envoy gets first pitch for the Mets on Taiwan Day - Taipei Times |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/08/22/2003763026 |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=www.taipeitimes.com}}

On 17 August 2022, in the aftermath of then Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan on 2–3 August, China blacklisted seven Taiwanese officials including Hsiao due to their alleged support for Taiwanese independence. The blacklist bans them from entering mainland China and the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, and restricts them from working with Chinese officials. Chinese state-run tabloid Global Times labelled Hsiao and the six officials as "diehard secessionists".{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/16/china-imposes-sanctions-on-seven-taiwan-secessionist-officials|title=China imposes sanctions on seven Taiwan 'secessionist' officials|newspaper=Al Jazeera|date=2022-08-16|access-date=2023-11-23}}

In April 2023, Hsiao was sanctioned by China for the second time in aftermath of the meeting between President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen and then Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy in the United States. The second set of sanctions also include preventing investors and firms related to the sanctioned individuals from cooperating with mainland China organisations and individuals.{{cite web|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/china-imposes-sanctions-taiwan-us-representative-3403191|title=China imposes further sanctions on Taiwan's US representative|newspaper=Channel NewsAsia|date=2023-04-07|access-date=2023-11-23|archive-date=23 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123125005/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/china-imposes-sanctions-taiwan-us-representative-3403191|url-status=dead}}

On 20 November 2023, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te officially named Hsiao his vice presidential candidate for the 2024 presidential election.{{cite news |last1=Teng |first1=Pei-ju |last2=Yeh |first2=Joseph |title=ELECTION 2024/'Back for Taiwan': Hsiao Bi-khim accepts DPP's VP nomination |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202311200010 |access-date=20 November 2023 |agency=Central News Agency |date=20 November 2023}} Hsiao was succeeded by Alexander Yui in her U.S. post at the end of the month.{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2023/11/30/2003809915|title=Former EU envoy Yui to replace Hsiao in Washington|work=Taipei Times|date=30 November 2023|access-date=5 May 2025}}

Vice presidency (2024–present)

In January 2024, Lai and Hsiao were elected president and vice president in the DPP's third consecutive presidential victory.{{cite news |last1=Teng |first1=Pei-ju |date=13 January 2024 |title=ELECTION 2024/DPP's Lai claims victory in Taiwan presidential election |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202401130011 |access-date=5 May 2025 |agency=Central News Agency |archive-date=13 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113130936/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202401130011 |url-status=live }} She made her first foreign trip as vice president-elect in March, visiting the United States and later the Czech Republic, prompting strong opposition from China, which labeled her a "diehard Taiwan independence separatist."{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3255236/beijing-hits-out-over-taiwan-vice-president-elect-hsiao-bi-khims-personal-trip-us|title=Beijing hits out over Taiwan vice-president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim's 'personal' trip to the US|first=Lawrence|last=Chung|newspaper=South China Morning Post|date=2024-03-13|access-date=2024-03-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/taiwans-vice-president-elect-visits-czech-republic/a-68612336|title=Taiwan's vice president-elect visits Czech Republic|work=DW|date=2024-03-19|access-date=2024-03-20}} During her visit to the Czech Republic, a car from the PRC embassy was stopped for allegedly tailing her convoy, leading to an investigation.{{Cite web|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240407_04/ |title=Taiwan media: Vice President-elect followed by China military diplomat in Prague |work=NHK |date=7 April 2024 |access-date=7 April 2024}}{{Cite web |date=2024-04-07 |title=Czechia probing alleged Chinese diplomat tailing of Taiwan VP-elect: MOFA |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202404070006 |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Focus Taiwan |language=en-US}} In May, she advocated for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly during events in Taipei.{{cite news|last=Lin|first=Hui-chin|url= https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2024/05/27/2003818463|title= Hsiao calls for Taiwan WHA inclusion|work=Taipei Times|date=27 May 2024}} In August, China's Taiwan Affairs Office added a new section to its website, listing 10 Taiwanese politicians and officials including Hsiao as "die-hard Taiwanese independence separatists." In response, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council criticized the move as hindering positive exchanges between the two sides.{{cite news|url= https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2024/08/10/2003822020 |title= MAC slams TAO's 'separatist' section|work=Taipei Times|date=10 August 2024}}

Personal life

Her father, Hsiao Ching-fen, was a former president of the Tainan Theological College and Seminary.

In November 2000, The Journalist, a local tabloid magazine, wrongly claimed to have been told by Vice President Annette Lu that Hsiao was having an affair with President Chen. No evidence supported the false claim,{{Citation | last = Huang | first = Joyce | title = Lack of evidence flusters magazine | newspaper = The Taipei Times | pages = 1 | date = 2001-01-09 | url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2001/01/09/68996}} and Lu sued the magazine for libel in civil court. The magazine was eventually ordered to apologize and issue corrections admitting it had fabricated the story.{{Citation | last = Chuang | first = Jimmy | title = Magazine ordered to correct Lu story | newspaper = The Taipei Times | pages = 1 | date = 2002-12-14 | url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2002/12/14/187105}}

During her political career, Hsiao and fellow legislators Cheng Li-chun and Chiu Yi-ying gained the nickname "the S.H.E of the DPP."{{cite news|last1=Su|first1=Fang-ho|last2=Chuang|first2=Meng-hsuan|last3=Lin|first3=Liang-sheng|title=New lawmakers walk red carpet for new session|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/02/02/2003638648|access-date=2 February 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=2 February 2016}} Hsiao has been a long-time supporter of gender equality and LGBT rights in Taiwan.{{cite news |last1=Tiezzi |first1=Shannon |date=February 11, 2021 |title=What to Expect From US-Taiwan Relations in 2021 (and Beyond) |url=https://thediplomat.com/2021/02/what-to-expect-from-us-taiwan-relations-in-2021-and-beyond/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=The Diplomat}}{{cite news |title=Taiwan approves same-sex marriage, a first in Asia |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/taiwan-approves-same-sex-marriage-a-first-in-asia |website=PBS |date=May 17, 2019}}

Hsiao is a cat lover, saying in July 2020 that she planned to take her four cats with her when she moved to the US as Taiwan's top representative to the country.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-20 |title=帶4隻貓赴美蕭美琴自詡台灣戰貓「在狹隘空間中找到生存之地」 {{!}} 政治 |trans-title=Bringing 4 Cats to the US: Hsiao Bi-khim Calls Herself Taiwan's "Battle Cat," "Finding a Place to Survive in a Confined Space" {{!}} Politics |url=https://newtalk.tw/news/view/2020-07-20/438314 |access-date=2020-07-21 |website=新頭殼 Newtalk |language=zh-TW}} As Taiwan's envoy, she said that she would combat China's allegedly aggressive "wolf warrior" (戰狼) diplomacy with her own brand of "cat warrior" (戰貓) diplomacy.{{Cite web|title=Hsiao to fight China's "wolf warrior diplomacy" with|url=https://en.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/2003637|access-date=2020-07-21|website=RTI Radio Taiwan International|language=zh}}{{Cite web |title=蕭美琴分享「戰貓」哲學：台灣溫暖可愛但招惹不得 |trans-title=Hsiao Bi-khim shares her "battle cat" philosophy: Taiwan is warm and lovable but not to be trifled with. |url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202312140333.aspx |access-date=2020-07-21 |website=Central News Agency (Taiwan) |quote=}}

Honors

60x60px Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon (Taiwan, 2024){{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Flor |last2=Wen |first2=Kuei-shang |title=Outgoing President Tsai honors VP Lai, 12 other officials |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202405130017 |access-date=14 May 2024 |agency=Central News Agency |date=14 May 2024}}