Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te on Tuesday received a German parliamentary delegation and called for closer cooperation to strengthen democratic resilience and the international order.
Given the rapidly changing international situation, it is clear that “only through cooperation among democratic partners can we uphold the rules-based international order,” Lai said during the meeting with the cross-party delegation, which is led by Till Steffen of the Greens.
Steffen said Taiwan and Germany face similar challenges in areas such as industrial resilience, defence and civil protection. Both sides could learn from each other, according to a press release issued by Taiwan’s Office of the President.
The delegation also includes Klaus-Peter Willsch and Markus Reichel from Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative Christian Democrats, as well as Rainer Kraft from the far-right Alternative for Germany and Mandy Eissing from The Left party. The delegates are due to remain in Taiwan until Sunday.
China criticized the visit on Monday. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Beijing has always opposed any form of official exchanges between its diplomatic partners and Taiwan.
Steffen, during a meeting on Monday with Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, stressed that exchanges between Taiwan and Germany should not be subject to interference from Beijing.
Beijing considers Taiwan part of Chinese territory and has threatened to use force to bring the self-governing island under its control.
Members of the Berlin-Taipei Parliamentary Circle of Friends last visited Taiwan in autumn 2022, when Beijing also voiced criticism.
