This year, as in years past, the Day of German Unity on October 3 is a day of joy, a day of gratitude and a day of confidence. We are joyful that our country is no longer torn in two by an inhuman border. We are grateful that so many friendly nations helped us along our way to unity and shared our happiness. We are confident that Germany will push its internal reforms ahead and continue to make positive contributions -- alongside our friends and partners -- to peace and stability in the world as a member of the European Union, NATO and the United Nations.
Having concentrated our energies for decades on overcoming national separation, reunification has made it possible to concentrate our attention more than before on other areas of the world and to intensify our relations with them. This is especially true for East Asia and Taiwan.
With our friends in Taiwan we share common values like democracy, rule of law, human rights, freedom of press and information and we also have the same system of a market economy. Taiwan is an important economic partner. For Germany, Taiwan is the third largest business partner in the whole of Asia, with Germany being Taiwan's largest trade partner in Europe.
Furthermore, there are close and important cultural and scientific ties. Currently about 1,400 Taiwanese are studying in Germany and 25 academic cooperation programs exist between Taiwanese and German universities. An increasing number of German students come to study in Taiwan, particularly to learn the Chinese language. Taiwan and Germany can work together as well in many other areas, for example, in the protection of the environment, in the development of renewable energy and in the field of high technologies and research.
Some weeks ago we were greatly honored and delighted to welcome Taiwan's first lady to Berlin on the occasion of the opening of the National Palace Museum's exhibition, "Treasures of the Sons of Heaven." More than 100,000 visitors have already come to see this outstanding exhibition of Chinese art and culture and many more are expected to follow. This marks an epoch-making event in the cultural annals of Germany and Taiwan, which will further deepen the mutual understanding between the people of our two countries.
For the year 2004 we are looking forward to receiving an exhibition of German art -- masterworks of the Berlin State Museums from classicism to early modernism -- in Taipei.
On both sides there is a lot of interest and good will to further enhance the friendly, close and fruitful ties between Taiwan and Germany. Taiwan can continue to count on the Federal Republic of Germany as a reliable friend and partner.
NO HUMAN ERROR: After the incident, the Coast Guard Administration said it would obtain uncrewed aerial vehicles and vessels to boost its detection capacity Authorities would improve border control to prevent unlawful entry into Taiwan’s waters and safeguard national security, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday after a Chinese man reached the nation’s coast on an inflatable boat, saying he “defected to freedom.” The man was found on a rubber boat when he was about to set foot on Taiwan at the estuary of Houkeng River (後坑溪) near Taiping Borough (太平) in New Taipei City’s Linkou District (林口), authorities said. The Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) northern branch said it received a report at 6:30am yesterday morning from the New Taipei City Fire Department about a
IN BEIJING’S FAVOR: A China Coast Guard spokesperson said that the Chinese maritime police would continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters it claims The Philippines withdrew its coast guard vessel from a South China Sea shoal that has recently been at the center of tensions with Beijing. BRP Teresa Magbanua “was compelled to return to port” from Sabina Shoal (Xianbin Shoal, 仙濱暗沙) due to bad weather, depleted supplies and the need to evacuate personnel requiring medical care, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Jay Tarriela said yesterday in a post on X. The Philippine vessel “will be in tiptop shape to resume her mission” after it has been resupplied and repaired, Philippine Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who heads the nation’s maritime council, said
REGIONAL STABILITY: Taipei thanked the Biden administration for authorizing its 16th sale of military goods and services to uphold Taiwan’s defense and safety The US Department of State has approved the sale of US$228 million of military goods and services to Taiwan, the US Department of Defense said on Monday. The state department “made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale” to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US for “return, repair and reshipment of spare parts and related equipment,” the defense department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a news release. Taiwan had requested the purchase of items and services which include the “return, repair and reshipment of classified and unclassified spare parts for aircraft and related equipment; US Government
More than 500 people on Saturday marched in New York in support of Taiwan’s entry to the UN, significantly more people than previous years. The march, coinciding with the ongoing 79th session of the UN General Assembly, comes close on the heels of growing international discourse regarding the meaning of UN Resolution 2758. Resolution 2758, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1971, recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the “only lawful representative of China.” It resulted in the Republic of China (ROC) losing its seat at the UN to the PRC. Taiwan has since been excluded from