China threatens to conquer Taiwan. Its warships and military jets are increasingly provoking the Taiwanese armed forces. A Bundestag delegation informed itself on site about the situation.
With the increased operations of the Chinese military in the immediate vicinity of Taiwan, the danger of unwanted incidents is also growing, according to members of the Bundestag. “When the number of targeted operations increases, there is always a risk that something will unintentionally get out of control,” Klaus Peter Willsch, chairman of the Bundestag committee for relations with Taiwan, told the press in Taipei on Thursday.
Although the always latent threat from China has not changed fundamentally, it has become “more tangible and clearer,” said the CDU politician. According to Katrin Budde (SPD), Vice-Chairman of the Parliamentary Circle of Friends, international attention has also changed after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Everywhere is now in the heads that something like this “happens elsewhere”.
China’s leadership threatens to conquer the democratic island republic, which is only considered part of the People’s Republic. In contrast, Taiwan sees itself as independent. Tensions had increased recently. In response to the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in early August, China launched large-scale maneuvers. Since then, deployments of warships and military aircraft in the busy Taiwan Strait have been ramped up to keep the pressure on.
“A Haven of Freedom in Asia”
The six members of the Bundestag from all factions ended their five-day visit to Taiwan on Thursday, which had also caused resentment with Beijing. China’s leadership firmly rejects such official contacts from other countries to Taipei and had protested against the visit. “We were surprised that other countries told us where we should travel,” said SPD MP Budde. But the Bundestag decides on this itself.
In view of the threats from China, Germany and Taiwan should intensify the exchange, members of the group emphasized. One of the lessons of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine is “that democracies should support each other,” said Green Party politician Till Steffen. “This country is governed by the rule of law, a haven of freedom in Asia,” said Willsch. The FDP politician Frank Schäffler advocated the conclusion of an investment agreement or free trade agreement with Taiwan at European level.
The deputies were received at high level by President Tsai Ing-wen, the vice president, head of parliament and foreign minister. The first visit since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2019 demonstrates “the return to normality,” said Willsch. The exchange of parliaments will continue after the interruption. After the Human Rights Committee’s visit in the coming weeks, a visit by young members of the Bundestag to Taiwan is planned for next year. The Friendship Association of the Taiwanese Parliament for Relations with Germany was also invited to Berlin.
Source: Stern
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