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.
He also said the FDP takes matters of freedom very seriously.
“That is why our visit here is also a gesture of support and solidarity against any threatening with military pressure,” he said.
Vogel said it was a “joy” for Germans to watch Taiwan transform from an authoritarian society to a vital democracy that was able to peacefully transfer power.
Tsai told her guests that she was happy to see exchanges and relations between Taiwan and Germany grow closer in recent months.
She said the two sides had cooperated on various issues such as energy transition, financial supervision, innovation research and transitional justice.
She also thanked Germany for supporting Taiwan’s bid to participate in the World Health Assembly as an observer last year despite stern opposition from Beijing.
The People’s Liberation Army staged a series of unprecedented live-fire drills around the island in early August in retaliation for a visit to Taipei by then-US speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi – a trip Beijing saw as a violation of its sovereignty.
“We look forward to Taiwan, Germany and other democratic partners jointly maintaining the regional order and prosperity,” she said.
Aside from meeting senior officials, the delegation will hold talks with experts from a Taiwanese think tank on cybersecurity and military threats.
This is the third delegation from the German Bundestag to travel to Taiwan since October.
