Bi-khim Hsiao

Bi-khim Hsiao is a Member of the Legislative Yuan (Parliament) of Taiwan , representing the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the 1st Electoral District (Shihlin, Beitou, Sungshan, Hsinyi, Neihu, Nangang) of Taipei City . Having lived and studied abroad, Ms. Hsiao began her political career with deep involvement in the international affairs of the DPP. Upon returning to Taiwan in 1996, she became the DPP's Director of International Affairs, and following the first democratic change of government in Taiwan in 2000, she became Advisor in the Office of the President.

Currently Ms. Hsiao is co-chair of the Foreign Relations Committee in the Taiwan Parliament and a Member of the Board for the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. She has been an effective spokesperson on Taiwan issues for the international media, think tanks, and foreign government visitors to Taiwan . She has also been active in inter-parliamentary networks and international political party organizations, and she is frequently invited to take part in international conferences.

In addition to representing Taiwan , Ms. Hsiao has also taken leadership roles in international organizations. She served as the Secretary General of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), a network of liberal and democratic political parties in Asia , from 2004 to 2005. She was elected Treasurer of Liberal International (LI) in 2003, and in 2005, at the 52 nd Congress of LI, Ms. Hsiao was elected as the youngest and only Asian Vice President represented in the LI Bureau.

In domestic politics, Ms. Hsiao has been outspoken on gender equality issues, combating domestic violence, animal protection, privacy rights, gay rights, immigrant rights, and counter-human trafficking efforts. In addition, Ms. Hsiao is a baseball fan and a strong promoter of women's participation in sports. In April 2005, she founded the Taiwan Association for Women in Sports (TAWS) , the first non-governmental organization in Taiwan specializing in women's rights in sports.