Germany deepens Taiwan ties amid China tensions

A German delegation from the Bundestag travels to Taiwan for a nine-day visit aimed at strengthening economic and cultural cooperation with a democratic partner. The Berlin-Taipei Parliamentary Friendship Group, led by Green Party lawmaker Till Steffen, includes members from the CDU, AfD, and Left Party. The trip draws criticism from Beijing, where the Foreign Ministry opposes official exchanges with Taiwan and frames Taiwan as a breakaway province expected to be reunified with the mainland. Steffen says Germany should avoid relying solely on China and maintain close ties with other countries, citing economic dependence such as battery supply chains. He points to a joint research project with Taiwan on future batteries.

"A delegation from the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament is in Taiwan. The Berlin-Taipei Parliamentary Friendship Group, a cross-party association of MPs that promotes international exchange, has traveled there to "strengthen economic and cultural cooperation with one of the region's most important democratic partners," the Bundestag said in a statement."

"Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said China has always opposed any form of official exchanges between its diplomatic partners and Taiwan. Beijing sees self-ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province that one day will be "reunited" with the mainland. German MP shrugs off criticism from Beijing"

""It is in Germany's interest to have a balanced situation and not to depend solely on China," said delegation leader Steffen. Economic dependence on China for example in batteries for electric cars has put Germany in a difficult position, he added. "It is fine to do business with Beijing, but we should not become dependent on China," Steffen said."

""That is why it is necessary to maintain close relations with other countries at the same time. It is therefore a good thing that we are carrying out a joint research project with Taiwan on the batteries of the future.""

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