Stark-Watzinger has signed a technology agreement in Taiwan
Education Minister Stark Wetzinger in Taipei on Tuesday
© AFP
Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Witzinger (FDP) signed a science and technology agreement during her two-day visit to Taiwan. Stark-Witzinger said in Taipei on Tuesday that the agreement means “expanding cooperation based on democratic values such as transparency, openness, reciprocity and academic freedom.” The minister spoke of a “new chapter in research and innovation” in relations with Taiwan.
Stark-Witzinger emphasized that her visit was about a “professional exchange.” It is “not here for reasons of a geopolitical nature”, but for “research and innovation”. According to the Ministry of Education, the visit focuses on cooperation in the fields of semiconductor research, and research related to the industrial use of the so-called hydrogen research and green batteries.
China reacted angrily to the first visit of a German government member to Taiwan in 26 years. The foreign ministry in Beijing said the country resolutely rejected the “malicious” visit, and China lodged a protest and expressed “great dissatisfaction” with the “German side in Beijing and Berlin,” spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday.
Germany should “immediately” end its cooperation with “separatist forces” in Taiwan and stop sending “false signals” and interfering in China’s internal affairs.
Taiwan is under increasing pressure from Beijing. Since the split between China and Taiwan in 1949, Beijing has viewed the island as a breakaway territory that it wants to reunite with the mainland – if necessary with the use of military force.
Stark-Watzinger did not want to comment on the Chinese protest against her visit. “The federal government’s strategy on China has not changed. In this regard, it cannot be linked to it today,” the minister said.
A German Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Friday that Germany maintains close and good relations with Taiwan “below the threshold of international recognition.” Regular exchanges and mutual visits by responsible ministers are “absolutely normal” and also conform to the One China policy. Part of this principle is to recognize Beijing as the sole representative of China.
Stark-Watzinger wanted to meet Digital Minister Audrey Tang in Taipei on Tuesday night (local time). Wednesday’s program includes a visit to a school and a meeting with Education Minister Pan Wen Chung. Gunther Rexroth (FDP), the Federal Minister for Economics at the time, last visited Taiwan in 1997.
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