German parliamentary delegation arrives in Taiwan

A delegation from the German parliament arrived in Taiwan on Sunday for a parliamentary exchange aimed at expanding cooperation with the self-governing island claimed by China.

The delegation, which is due to meet President Lai Ching-te on Tuesday, is set to stay in Taiwan until May 31. Talks are also planned with former president Tsai Ing-wen, lawmakers, government officials, business representatives and civil society groups.

Hung-Lu Chang, chairman of the Taiwan-Germany Parliamentary Friendship Association, told dpa that exchanges between democracies help deepen mutual understanding and strengthen bilateral relations. A meeting between the German delegation and Taiwanese lawmakers is scheduled for Wednesday, he said.

The five-member group of lawmakers is led by Till Steffen of the Greens, chairman of the Berlin-Taipei Parliamentary Circle of Friends. 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 (AfD) and Mandy Eissing from The Left party.

"Taiwan is a very important partner for Germany. We share many common values: as free democracies, we face growing challenges from authoritarian forces and must stand firm in a world where the United States is no longer seen as a consistently reliable partner," Steffen told dpa. He said the delegation also wanted to convey that message to Lai.

Willsch said China's increasingly assertive foreign policy and military activities were prompting many European countries to reassess and diversify their relations with Taiwan.

The delegation is scheduled to visit the Central Taiwan Science Park on Thursday to discuss semiconductor industry developments and cooperation opportunities.

Taiwan is home to chipmaker TSMC, a global leader in advanced semiconductors. Its Dresden plant, operated through the European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (ESMC), is currently under construction and is expected to begin production in 2027, with volume manufacturing ramping up towards late 2027 or shortly after.

"The establishment of TSMC in Dresden clearly demonstrates that cooperation between Taiwan and Europe has already entered a new strategic phase," Willsch said.

The last Taiwan visit by members of the Berlin-Taipei friendship group took place in late 2022. At the time, Beijing urged the delegation to adhere to the "one-China principle" and to "immediately cease" contacts with what it called "separatist independence forces" in Taiwan.

Taiwan has had an independent government since 1949 and has become a thriving democracy. Beijing rejects official contacts between other countries and Taipei because it regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use military means to force reunification.