TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Till Steffen, chair of the German Bundestag Taiwan Friendship Group, said Berlin will not accept interference from Beijing while meeting with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Tuesday.
During the reception at the Presidential Office, Lai said Taiwan and Germany both cherish universal values such as democracy, freedom, and the rule of law, per CNA. He said that amid rapidly changing international circumstances, the rules-based order can only be upheld through cooperation among democratic partners.
The president also thanked the German government and parliament for their support for Taiwan. He noted that in September 2024, German naval vessels transited the Taiwan Strait for the first time in 22 years, reaffirming that the strait is international waters where freedom of navigation must be protected.
Lai said the friendship group has repeatedly voiced support for Taiwan’s international participation, strengthening Taiwan’s ability to work with like-minded democracies on global issues. He added that Taiwan and Germany have continued to expand exchanges in trade, technology, and other fields in recent years while deepening ties based on shared democratic values.
The president highlighted TSMC’s investment in a factory in Dresden as a major milestone in Taiwan-Germany industrial cooperation. He said the project promotes exchanges between Taiwan and Europe and strengthens both sides’ contribution to resilient democratic supply chains.
Steffen said the positions of both the German government and parliament toward Taiwan remain unchanged. He said China sometimes objects when Germany engages with Taiwan, noting that China’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Monday criticizing the delegation’s visit.
Steffen said his response was simple: “Exchanges between democratic societies are normal,” per TVBS. “We will not accept external interference,” he added.
Referring to Lai’s recent visit to Eswatini, Steffen said China had attempted to interfere even in routine exchanges between diplomatic partners, drawing global attention. He joked that Hollywood might already be considering turning the episode into a film, prompting Lai to laugh and quip that he would like to choose the lead actor, CNA reported.
Steffen said both Taiwan and Germany face similar challenges in global expansion, industrial resilience, defense, and civil defense, and share many commonalities and areas for mutual learning. He added that many forms of cooperation now underway would have been unimaginable just two or three years ago.
He said he would closely monitor future developments, particularly regarding arms sales, noting procurement uncertainties but strong support in the US Congress. He also said he looked forward to seeing when US President Donald Trump might speak with Taiwan’s leadership, according to CNA.
