September 15, 2022
No. 245
The Progress Report on the Implementation of Federal Government Policy Guidelines for the Indo-Pacific adopted by the German government on September 14 mentions Taiwan for the first time. In addition to showing concern for security across the Taiwan Strait, the report clearly opposes nonpeaceful means of changing the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) very much welcomes the report and thanks the German government for its clear stance of concern for peace and security across the Taiwan Strait.
The report follows up on the publication of the Policy Guidelines for the Indo-Pacific by the German government on September 2, 2020. It also mentions the August 2021 dispatch of the frigate Bayern to the Indo-Pacific to participate in joint exercises with the United States, Japan, Australia, and Canada as well as of military aircraft to Operation Rapid Pacific 2022. The report marks the first time language has been included showing the German government’s concern for security across the Taiwan Strait. It underscores that Germany will seek to work with all like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific to buttress the rules-based international order, reduce dependencies through diversification, and prevent future socioeconomic crises. The report is a concrete expression of Germany’s determination and willingness to implement its Indo-Pacific guidelines.
This year, Germany is serving as rotating president of the G7, in which capacity it has overseen the issuance of joint statements by G7 leaders and foreign ministers that showed concern for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. In May at the World Health Assembly, for the first time, Germany conveyed clear support for Taiwan’s participation as an observer. MOFA will continue to deepen and broaden bilateral ties with Germany on the basis of common values such as freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, so as to jointly strengthen democratic resilience and expand cooperation to other areas. (E)