The visit of a delegation from the German Bundestag to Taiwan has upset German-Chinese relations. Shortly after the six MPs from different parties arrived in Taipei, the Chinese government protested. A foreign ministry spokesman urged German parliamentarians to adhere to the “one China principle” and “immediately cease” their interactions with the “separatist independence forces” in Taiwan. You shouldn’t send any “wrong signals,” Beijing said.
In his protest, Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesman emphasized: “Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory.” The government of the People’s Republic is the only legitimate government in all of China. “China will take necessary measures to resolutely protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Bundestag delegation sees “overreaction” from Beijing
After the Chinese protest against the visit to Taiwan, the head of the delegation speaks of an exaggerated reaction. The CDU politician Klaus-Peter Willsch said in Taipei that the parliamentary group maintains foreign policy relations with the Taiwanese parliament, which also includes mutual visits at irregular intervals. “The problem isn’t the peaceful journey to a democracy. It’s the complete overreaction of a nervous dictatorship that responds to words with missiles and military aggression,” said Willsch. “An exchange of parliamentarians must not be used as a pretext for saber-rattling behavior by the Chinese communists, nor as an excuse for further violations of Taiwan’s sea and air space,” said Willsch, also with a view to China’s violent reaction to the visit of the chairmen of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, in Taiwan in August.
Klaus-Peter Willsch (r) upon arrival with Alexander Tah-ray Yui (l), Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister
In such times it is important to demonstrate friendship with Taiwan, said the Greens politician in the delegation, Till Steffen, to DW. The German policy towards Taiwan and China, which has been pursued for many years, has not changed. It would only be different if MPs were reluctant to visit Taiwan now. At a time when China is threatening Taiwan, it would send a “negative signal” to Taiwan not to travel. China should “not interfere” in this cooperation.
Taiwan – an important trading partner for Germany
It is the first visit by a Bundestag delegation to the democratic island republic since the beginning of the corona pandemic at the end of 2019. The “Berlin-Taipei Circle of Friends”, chaired by CDU politician Willsch, wants to spend five days getting an idea of the tense security situation and the economic and make political development. The parliamentarians will be received with high rank: Meetings are planned with President Tsai Ing-wen, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and Parliament leader You Si-kun.
With its “One China Doctrine,” Beijing does not allow its diplomatic partners to maintain relations with Taiwan at the same time. That is why Germany only has an unofficial representation in Taipei. Taiwan ranks fifth among German trading partners in Asia. Exchanges of goods between the two sides exceeded US$20 billion last year.
Since the split between China and Taiwan in 1949, Beijing has viewed the island nation as a breakaway territory that it wants to reunite with the mainland – if necessary using military force. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has raised fears that Beijing could use a similar approach in its dealings with Taiwan.
qu/fab (dpa, afp, dw)
