German MPs head to Taiwan amid China tensions, ahead of anticipated ministerial visit
- Johannes Vogel, of the Free Democratic Party, posted a photograph online of him and party colleague Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann ‘on the plane to Taiwan’
- Their trip is expected to be followed by visit from German Education Minister in the spring, which would be the first by a member of the German cabinet in 26 years
A high-ranking parliamentary delegation from Germany said they were travelling to Taiwan on Sunday, ahead of an anticipated ministerial visit later this year in moves that could spark tensions with China.
Johannes Vogel of the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) – a junior partner in Germany’s coalition government – posted a picture on Twitter of him and party colleague Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann on “the plane to Taiwan”.
The visit was a gesture of “solidarity” with the self-ruled democracy which China claims as part of its territory, Strack-Zimmermann, the head of the parliamentary defence committee, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Thursday.
The trip is set to be followed by a visit from German Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger, also of the FDP, in the spring, sources said.
It would be the first by a member of the German cabinet in 26 years.
The delegation would meet with representatives of Taiwan’s government and the opposition, as well as human rights organisations, business leaders and members of the military during its stay, Strack-Zimmermann said ahead of the trip.