Berlin, Germany – Ahead of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s trip to China this weekend, Taiwan is calling for a clear stance against any military action by Beijing.
Shieh Jhy-Wey, Taiwan’s top representative in Germany, emphasized the importance of Scholz sending a strong message during his meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“The threats against Taiwan have increased since Chancellor Scholz’s last visit to China,” Shieh said in an interview with dpa. “Perhaps the Chinese didn’t get the message back then.”
Tensions have escalated significantly since the war in Ukraine began, with concerns mounting over a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan. The island nation, self-governed since 1949, is viewed by China as a breakaway province.
Shieh warned that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would have severe economic and technological consequences, especially for Germany and the European Union, which rely heavily on Taiwanese semiconductors. He urged Scholz to continue efforts to diversify Germany’s economic dependence on China.
Taiwan also seeks increased military cooperation with Germany, mirroring recent deployments by the US, UK, and France in the region. A similar German naval mission in the Pacific last year did not include a visit to Taiwan, which Shieh called “disappointing.”
“We hope Germany will show a stronger presence in the Taiwan Strait,” he said, “and work more closely with Taiwan.”
Scholz’s three-day visit to China, starting on Saturday, will include meetings with President Xi and other government officials. He will be accompanied by a business delegation, highlighting the economic ties between the two nations.