German Minister of Education and Research Bettina Stark-Watzinger is scheduled to arrive in Taiwan today. It is the first time in 26 years that Taipei is hosting a minister from Germany.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday visited Japan, his second visit in 12 months, and German broadcaster Deutsche Welle has revealed the draft of Berlin’s of new China policy.
All of this shows that Germany is endeavoring to engage with nations in Asia and the Pacific. The purpose, obviously, is to reduce its reliance on China.
Stark-Watzinger’s visit to Taiwan would be a historic move that has been delayed for years, German daily newspaper Der Tagesspiegel reported.
Of course, a German minister does not visit Taiwan by chance. It is clear that the visit is aimed at greasing the wheels regarding Germany’s access to chips, and Berlin does not want Singapore to get in its way.
At the same time, the Central News Agency published an editorial a few days ago, criticizing how the EU wants Taiwan’s chips but refused to bolster its economic ties with the nation.
Germany often sets the direction and the EU follows, so Taiwan should seize the opportunity and find out what Germany needs, using its advantage to promote a trading partnership between the EU and Taipei.
First, since Taiwan has long been a leader in advanced semiconductor manufacturing technology, Stark-Watzinger’s visit is unlikely to merely be an educational and research exchange. Instead, one of her intentions would be to confirm Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (TSMC) plan to establish a fab in Germany.
Although Germany and the Free State of Saxony are willing to subsidize TSMC, EU participation is also needed to execute the plan. Taiwan must take full advantage of this by asking Germany to facilitate a trade agreement between Taiwan and the EU.
Second, all nations have started to train their own China experts due to concerns about Beijing’s assertive behavior.
In its updated foreign policy, the UK highlighted the need to enhance its research capabilities to study China. Stark-Watzinger’s visit conveys the same message. Taiwan should play an important role in helping the West train their own experts on China.
Third, when he was in Japan, Scholz discussed semiconductors and green hydrogen energy, aiming to deepen Germany’s collaboration with Japan. Taiwan should initiate such conversations with Germany to cope with challenges brought by China.
Last, economic security is one of the most significant concerns for G7 nations, and their priority is to consolidate the supply chain to counter economic coercion, state-led access to technology and behaviors that are contrary to free-market principles.
Taiwan’s performance in these aspects has been excellent, and it should keep up the good work to improve ties with Germany.
German foreign affairs specialist and member of the Bundestag Roderich Kiesewetter once said that Germany’s foreign policy has long been founded upon three deceptions: inexpensive security from the US, inexpensive supply chains from China, and inexpensive oil and gas from Russia.
Today, Germany is striving to address its dependence on those three countries, and it has come to Taiwan regardless of China’s threats and its “one China” policy.
Taipei should make the most of this, establishing a supply chain based on mutual trust, while asking Germany to lobby for a Taiwan-EU trade agreement. With Germany taking the lead, Taiwan should have a better chance of success.
Chang Meng-jen is chair of Fu Jen Catholic University’s Department of Italian Language and Culture, and coordinator of the university’s diplomacy and international affairs program.
Translated by Emma Liu
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