Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung met with Roderich Kiesewetter, deputy head of the German Bundestag’s Parliamentary Oversight Panel and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, July 23 in Taipei City, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Lin said during the meeting that peace across the Taiwan Strait is key to ensuring Indo-Pacific security and the stability of global supply chains. He also called on like-minded partners such as Germany to unite to tackle China’s ongoing threats and hybrid warfare both in the region and around the world.
Taiwan and Germany have a close academic, economic and trade relationship, Lin said, adding that the establishment of a Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. factory in Dresden will further boost bilateral collaboration and enhance democratic resilience.
In response, Kiesewetter concurred with Lin on the importance of cooperation among democracies and Taiwan’s investment in Germany’s semiconductor industry. He added that the Russia-Ukraine war has been a wake-up call warning democracies not to harbor illusions about authoritarian regimes and highlighting the critical nature of mutual trust to global cooperation.
The meeting followed a luncheon hosted by Vice Foreign Minister Remus Li-kuo Chen July 22. Chen thanked the Bundestag for recently passing a resolution emphasizing the importance of cross-strait peace and stability, while Kiesewetter urged democracies to work together to deter China’s attempts to take Taiwan by force and welcomed more official bilateral visits.
Earlier the same day, Kiesewetter was also received by Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim at the Presidential Office in Taipei. Hsiao expressed appreciation to the German government and legislature for supporting Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations and thanked Kiesewetter for facilitating stronger economic bonds between Taiwan and European countries.
Europe is Taiwan’s largest source of foreign investment, she said, adding that Taiwan will continue to launch cooperative projects with Germany and expand economic and commercial activities in Europe. (YCH-E)
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