China experts from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs say their future government should deepen relationships with Taiwan, and support Taiwan’s international participation.
Germany held a parliamentary election last month, in which no party gained an absolute majority of votes. Until a coalition is formed, the outgoing chancellor Angela Merkel will continue as leader. Over her 16 years in power, her China-friendly policies have been criticized by many in Europe.
Gudrun Wacker and Alexandra Sakaki from the think-tank German Institute from International and Security Affairs say that in the face of increasing pressure from China, the next German government should improve ties with Taiwan. They say China’s recent intrusions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), as well as cyberattacks, misinformation, and economic sanctions have increased support for Taiwan in western countries.
Social Democratic Party (SPD) spokesperson Nils Schmid, whose party won the most votes last month, says China cannot use military force to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. He also says Taiwanese people should choose their own path without coercion, and that Germany should back Taiwan’s bid to join the World Health Assembly. Schmid also says Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is very important to Germany and Europe