China is threatening to conquer Taiwan, the USA is warning China against military action – Federal Defense Minister Pistorius is calling for efforts to de-escalate the situation.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has called for increased efforts to de-escalate the conflict over Taiwan. “It doesn’t help us to isolate China,” said the SPD politician in Singapore after talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu, whom he met there at the Asian security conference Shangri-La-Dialog. Pistorius said there are diverse connections and mutual dependencies that cannot simply be eliminated. “So we have to minimize our risks, we have to reduce our dependencies,” says Pistorius.
The SPD politician said there was an open discussion at the meeting, characterized by the common goal of preserving peace and overcoming lines of conflict. He thinks that is “very, very important,” said Pistorius. “It’s not going to help us cut the connection or isolate anyone,” he said. That is why our line in the Indo-Pacific is also completely clear. “Nothing we do here is directed against anyone, but is explicitly aimed at a peaceful Indo-Pacific, open to all and safe,” Pistorius said.
Before the conference, China’s defense minister had again threatened to conquer Taiwan. He will be speaking at the Security Forum on Sunday. China regards Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic. The island republic, which has 23 million inhabitants, has had an independent government for more than seven decades. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin warned China on Saturday in Singapore against military action against Taiwan.
End of training by German pilots
Pistorius has asked his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu to stop a training program involving former German fighter pilots. “I made it clear that I expect this practice to end immediately and made it clear to him that he would certainly not be amused if I tried that myself,” Pistorius said. He reacted very cautiously. “He didn’t deny it, but put the meaning into perspective from his perspective,” Pistorius said.
Former fighter pilots from Germany have been training military pilots in China for years, as “Spiegel” and ZDF reported. According to this, at least a handful of former German Air Force officers are said to be employed as trainers in China. According to these reports, their payment “apparently in several cases came from letterbox companies in the Seychelles”. Some of them also worked for the company of an unmasked Chinese spy. According to reports from both media, several pilots left inquiries unanswered or could not be reached. A pilot denied the allegations. Pistorius has announced an investigation.
Source: Stern
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