《TAIPEI TIMES》German report opposes changes to ‘status quo’

ENGAGEMENT: Berlin’s report on its Indo-Pacific strategy can be summarized as reducing reliance on China and joining other nations in opposing Beijing, a diplomat said

By Jake Chung / Staff writer

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A progress report on the German government’s policy guidelines for the Indo-Pacific region released on Wednesday said the European country is against any changes to the “status quo” across the Taiwan Strait by non-peaceful means, Representative to Germany Shieh Jhy-wey （謝志偉） said yesterday.

It was the first time that Taiwan has been mentioned in a progress report about the policy.

The 80-page document can be boiled down to two points: reducing economic reliance on China and joining other countries in opposing Beijing, Shieh said.

The guidelines have led to Germany’s participation in the 17-nation Pitch Black military exercise held in Australia last month and this month, which involved the German Air Force’s longest strategic deployment, he said.

It was also the first time that German military aircraft flew in the Indo-Pacific region since the air force’s founding in 1956, he added.

The links being drawn between the Russia-Ukraine war and Taiwan-China tensions suggest that international relations might be shifting from an East-West perspective to once again a rivalry between democracies and autocracies, he said.

“Taiwan’s inclusion to the democracy camp is imminent, due to its strategic position and resources,” he added.

In Taipei yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked the German government for its support for peace and stability in the Strait.

Germany, which holds the rotating presidency of G7 this year, has voiced concerns for peace and stability in the Strait, the ministry said.

It has for the first time expressed support for Taiwan’s participation as an observer in the World Health Assembly in May, it said.

Taiwan and Germany share values of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and human rights, and the government would continue to deepen bilateral relations, it said.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES