Taiwan: first German ministerial visit in 26 years

German Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger and her Taiwanese counterpart Wu Tsung-tsong on March 21, 2023. AFP - HANDOUT

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Bettina Stark-Watzinger, the German Minister of Education, visited Taiwan on Tuesday 21 March. This is the first visit - in 26 years - by a German minister to the island claimed by China; The objective is to sign a technological partnership.

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The technology agreement, concluded between Germany and the National Council of Science and Technology of Taiwan (NSTC), aims to "improve cooperation on the basis of democratic values, transparency, openness, reciprocity and scientific freedom," said Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Germany's education minister. Stark-Watzinger also spoke of a "great pleasure and honour" at becoming the first member of a German government to visit the island in more than two decades.

"Malicious" visit

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For its part, Beijing "firmly opposes" this "malicious" visit, responded Tuesday a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Wenbin. "China has issued solemn protests and expressed its strong dissatisfaction with Germany, Beijing and Berlin," he told a news conference. China is regularly indignant at official exchanges between Taiwan and its international partners. In the name of its "One China" principle, it considers the self-administered island as one of its provinces to be retaken one day, by force if necessary.

Last week, Germany's Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to the "One China" principle, according to which Berlin maintains official relations with Beijing. Germany, however, says it maintains "close ties with Taiwan." Asked about the presence of Chinese opposed to her coming, Ms. Stark-Watzinger did not wish to answer. His visit comes two months after that of a high-level German parliamentary delegation, also strongly criticized by Beijing. China has stepped up diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan in retaliation for a series of visits by U.S., European and international officials.

A framework for "normal" exchanges

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NSTC director Wu Tsung-tsong said the visit was part of "normal" exchanges. The signed science and technology agreement provides for joint research in several sectors, including semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI), Wu said. According to press reports, Taiwanese tech giant TSMC, the world's largest chip producer, is currently in talks to build its first European factory in Germany. In December 2022, however, the company said it had "no concrete plans" to set up a production site in Germany.

(

With AFP)

Read also: Why Honduras wants to establish diplomatic relations with China at the expense of Taiwan

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