German member of Bundestag heads delegation to Taiwan

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Oct 13:29

A Germany-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group delegation headed by Bundestag member Klaus-Peter Willsch arrives in Taiwan for a 5-day visit.

Taiwanese Alexander Yui chats with German-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group Chairman Klaus-Peter Willsch (DPA)

A five-day visit of the Germany-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group delegation headed by its chairman and member of the German Bundestag, Klaus-Peter Willsch, has begun as the delegation arrived in Taiwan for the first time since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, reported by Taipei.

According to a tweet by the Taiwan government, "Vice Minister Yui warmly welcomed the 1st post-epidemic #German delegation. We wish Bundestag’s Taiwan friendship group chair Klaus-Peter Willsch & 5 deputy chairs from their respective parties a fruitful 5-day visit. Time & distance don’t dim friendship!"

Vice Minister Yui warmly welcomed the 1st post-epidemic #German🇩🇪 delegation. We wish @Bundestag’s #Taiwan🇹🇼 friendship group chair Klaus-Peter Willsch & 5 deputy chairs from their respective parties a fruitful 5-day visit. Time & distance don’t dim friendship! pic.twitter.com/aUPIxeqr1E
— 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) October 2, 2022

The delegation is set to hold meetings with Taiwanese chief Tsai Ing-wen and Vice president Lai Ching-te as well as to visit the lawmaking institutions along with analytic centers and security organizations.

In the context of the volatility surrounding Taiwan following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's contentious visit in early August, Taipei stated on Thursday that the German delegation's visit is particularly significant.

China denounced Pelosi's visit, which it saw as an endorsement of independence, and began extensive military drills close to Taiwan. Since then, a number of nations have dispatched delegates to the island, raising the already high level of tension in the Taiwan Strait.

G7 and EU high representatives

In a statement issued on September 22, German Foreign Minister Annalina Birbock quoted the G7 foreign ministers and the European Union High Representative as saying in their meeting that they "oppose unilateral changes to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait," stressing that there had been no change in the members' basic positions on Taiwan nor on the "One China" policy.

On September 23, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin strongly refuted the G7 foreign minister's statement regarding the situation in the Taiwan Strait. He stressed that "China is not the one that wants to alter the status quo in the Taiwan region, but the ruling progressive democratic party and foreign meddlers are the ones fanning the flames of the separatist Taiwanese forces."

Wang further noted that the One China principle was "a pillar of support for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait." He then called on Germany and the other G7 member states to "take practical measures to abide by the One China principle rather than making verbal commitments."