BERLIN (TVBS News) — Germany is keen to deepen and expand its relations with Taiwan, Petra Sigmund, the German Director General for Asia and Pacific, said on Monday (Nov. 13).
During an opening speech at the second Berlin Taiwan Conference, Sigmund stressed that although Germany does not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, it is committed to maintaining and expanding connections with Taiwan in multiple sectors, such as academics and trade.
Sigmund stated that Germany abides by the "One China Policy," but that does not mean zero official interactions with Taiwan; such engagement can extend up to a ministerial level instead.
Germany, she explained, follows a principle where seven of its paramount representatives, including the president, chancellor, and foreign minister do not establish contact with Taiwan.
Apart from them, Sigmund stressed, "Germany intends to take full use of the rest of the open contact spaces."
Sigmund underscored that even if these interactions with Taiwan disturb China, "Germany will strive to safeguard these spaces, ensuring the status quo of relations with Taiwan, because Taiwan is too important to Germany."
