Germany should abandon strategic ambiguity and take a clear stance on Taiwan’s sovereignty in the face of China’s threats, Berlin-based think tank the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) said in a report.
DGAP released the report following the transit of the German frigate Baden-Wurttemberg and supply ship Frankfurt am Main through the Taiwan Strait on Sept. 13, which drew criticism from Beijing.
The report said the passage by the German vessels demonstrated that “Germany is not threatened by China,” and recommended Germany abandon its relatively vague position on issues related to Taiwan.
Photo: AFP
Citing an example, DGAP said the German Federal Foreign Office only briefly mentioned Taiwan in its 72-page Indo-Pacific policy report issued in 2020, in which it only described academic exchanges with Taiwan.
However, such a vague stance would be insufficient to deal with the escalating geopolitical risks emerging in the Indo-Pacific region, it said.
While the world is paying close attention to Ukraine, it cannot ignore the rising tensions in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait due to an increasingly aggressive Chinese People’s Liberation Army, it said.
The report said that 10 per cent of global economic output, or more than US$10 trillion, would be lost annually in the event of a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait.
The impact of a cross-strait conflict on Germany’s global trade, of which 20 percent is with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, would be more significant than the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War had on Germany’s economy, it said.
The report suggested that China would be unlikely to attempt an invasion of Taiwan in the coming few years, but that could change if Taiwan officially declared independence.
Germany must also consider the possibility of the US returning to isolationism, requiring Europe to bear more of its defense costs, particularly if former US president Donald Trump is re-elected, it said.
The report said that Germany must take more positive actions and a clearer stance to ensure stability in the Taiwan Strait and safeguard its national interests.
By joining other European countries in addressing and condemning China’s military actions, Germany would have the opportunity to change Beijing’s calculations, it said.
In addition to transiting the Taiwan Strait, Germany could improve military cooperation with allies in the Indo-Pacific region such as New Zealand, Australia, Japan and South Korea, it said.
For example, it could hold joint military exercises with regional partners, support provisioning drone technology to the Philippines and help allies strengthen their maritime defenses, it said.
Researchers Aylin Matle and Hanna Gers, who authored the report, said Berlin should clearly convey to Beijing that if it attempts to invade Taiwan, it would face serious economic and diplomatic consequences.
The report said the German government should clearly and transparently explain to the German public how security issues in the Indo-Pacific region affect Germany’s national interests, and explain the importance of defense investments in this context.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, China imposed significant tariffs on Australian imports as retaliation for its calls for the international community to investigate the origins of the pandemic.
The Australian government conveyed to the Australian public the geopolitical threat posed by China and successfully gained public support for its policies and increased defense spending, an experience which Germany should learn from, the researchers said.
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
STAY COOL: The HPA recommended that people stay hydrated, use air-conditioning or fans while indoors, wear loose-fitting clothes and walk in the shade while outdoors Employers must implement measures such as installing cooling equipment, and providing drinking water and rest breaks for outdoor workers starting from Monday next week, the Taipei Department of Labor said on Sunday. Employers who fail to comply could face fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法), the department said. Businesses in Taipei employing fewer than 100 workers, as well as registered self-employed workers with labor insurance coverage, could receive on-site assessments and guidance from occupational safety consultants to help them apply for central government subsidies to implement or improve heat-protection measures, it said. Under the Ministry of
ISOLATION: The outposts would serve as support and backup bases, forcing US forces to either face China head-on or reroute, increasing travel time and operational costs China’s outposts in the South China Sea could be used to delay and constrain foreign forces during a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, giving Beijing a critical window to carry out amphibious landing and blockade operations, a report said. The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) forward operating bases on islands and reclaimed features in the South China Sea could delay foreign forces long enough for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to secure a key 48-to-72-hour window in the Taiwan Strait, a report commissioned by the Mainland Affairs Council found. The report, conducted by the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, examined
RSS