German lawmakers deliver a message to Beijing during Taiwan visit
- German delegates call their visit to the island a gesture of solidarity against military threats
- It is the third German high-level to visit the island since October
A delegation of German lawmakers has taken aim at Beijing during a visit to Taiwan, saying any military threats or use of force to unilaterally change the cross-strait status quo are “unacceptable”.
The remarks came during a meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday. A day earlier, the island’s military reported the detection of 57 warplanes and four warships in what appeared to be part of joint navy and air force combat drills announced by mainland China’s Eastern Theatre Command on Sunday.
“We are friends, and we are living in a democratic way, and … on February 24 everything changed. It was not the first attack from Russia on Ukraine, but this attack was a huge wake-up call,” said Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, chairwoman of Germany’s parliamentary defence committee, who is one of the leaders of the delegation.
Strack-Zimmermann said the Russian invasion of Ukraine was a reminder that democratic allies should stand together to protect peace and freedom for the sake of future generations.
“That is the reason why we come to your country, to your wonderful island,” she said, suggesting that like Ukraine coming under attack by Russia, the self-ruled island faces persistent threats and coercion from Beijing – which sees Taiwan as its territory that must be taken under control, by force if necessary.