According to an official, Germany is sending its federal education and research minister to Taiwan next week to discuss expanding research cooperation. This marks the first high-level visit by a German minister to Taiwan in over twenty years. The minister, Bettina Stark-Watzinger, will meet with Taiwanese officials to discuss chip research, green hydrogen, and batteries. However, government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit clarified that the visit is not related to Taiwan’s sovereignty and Germany will maintain its stance on the “One China” policy. It is unclear if Stark-Watzinger will meet with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen during her visit.
TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, recently revealed its consideration to open its first plant in Europe and a second one in Japan. The company was reportedly in talks last year about establishing a plant in Dresden, Germany.
On January 9th, Germany sent a delegation led by the national defense committee chairman Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann to Taiwan to discuss stability across the Taiwan Strait. China staged combat drills involving 57 aircraft and four naval vessels around the island, and Taiwan reacted by scrambling aircraft, naval vessels, and land-based missile systems. Beijing claimed the drills were to counter “provocative actions” by Taiwan and external forces, while Taiwan stated that it was the People’s Liberation Army’s “irrational provocation” that had destabilized regional security. The Chinese Communist Party views Taiwan as a breakaway province that must be united with mainland China by any means necessary.