On June 26, 2025, a high-level public symposium titled "German-Taiwanese Relations after the Federal Elections: Bilateral, European and International Perspectives" („Die deutsch-taiwanischen Beziehungen nach den Bundestagswahlen: Bilaterale, europäische und internationale Perspektiven“) was held at the Taipei Representative Office in Berlin. The event was jointly organized by the European Research Center on Contemporary Taiwan (ERCCT) at the University of Tübingen, the Taipei Representative Office in the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Deutsch-Taiwanische Dialogplattform (DTDP, Forum for German-Taiwanese Dialogue).
The symposium was held against a background of new challenges for German-Taiwanese relations: with the start of Trump's second term in office in the United States apperently leading to lasting shifts in international relations, the new German government is faced with the task of leading Europe out of its current political crisis and working actively with its European partners to shape the emerging new world order. Taiwan is also directly affected by these global political dynamics: it is still unclear how relations between the US and Russia will develop in the long term and how this will affect the war in Ukraine. It is equally unclear what consequences Europe, and Germany in particular, will draw from its political estrangement from the US for its relations with Beijing and how this development could affect Europe's relations with Taiwan. The symposium aimed to take stock of the situation with the goal of highlighting continuities and possible changes in German and European policy toward Taiwan in light of current global political changes.
The event was solemnly opened with warm welcoming remarks by Prof. Shieh Jyh-Wey, Taiwan’s Representative to Germany. In his address, Prof. Shieh highlighted the importance of shared democratic values, mutual understanding, and the need for stable partnerships in uncertain times. His remarks underscored Taiwan’s desire for deeper cooperation with Germany and Europe, particularly in the face of growing geopolitical pressure.
Key Note Speeches and Commentaries
The opening presentation was delivered by Reinhard Bütikofer, representing the Deutsch-Taiwanische Dialogplattform and a former Member of the European Parliament. His talk, titled "German-Taiwanese Relations in the Context of Current International and European Politics" („Die deutsch-taiwanischen Beziehungen im Kontext der gegenwärtigen internationalen und europäischen Politik“), provided a wide-ranging overview of how various European actors—including national governments, EU institutions, the business sector, and civil society—relate to Taiwan. Bütikofer observed that since The Economist labeled the Taiwan Strait “the most dangerous place on Earth,” the security situation has only deteriorated further. He emphasized that China has prepared for a potential military aggression against Taiwan far more systematically than Russia did before its invasion of Ukraine.
Bütikofer called on the European Union to adopt a more proactive and strategic posture in preventing a Chinese attack. Among his key policy recommendations were the need for the EU to counter China’s „salamy slicing“ through regular and determined reactions to and condemnation of gray-zone provocations by Beijing, to participate more actively in freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait, to conclude an economic partnership agreement with Taiwan, to advocate for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations, to engage the European public with clearer information about Taiwan, and to intensify official and parliamentary visits to the island. These measures, he argued, should not be viewed as symbolic acts but as essential steps in upholding the rules-based international order.
In his commentary, Felix Lee of the Süddeutsche Zeitung pointed to the persistent gap between political intention and practical implementation in Europe’s China and Taiwan policy. He noted that while expressions of solidarity with Taiwan have become more frequent, they remain fragile and inconsistent, particularly in light of Europe’s economic entanglements with China.
The second speaker, Dr. Gudrun Wacker of the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), presented a talk titled "German-Taiwanese Relations Amid the Tensions of Germany’s China Policy" („Die deutsch-taiwanischen Beziehungen im Spannungsfeld der deutschen Chinapolitik“). Dr. Wacker described how Taiwan has increasingly emerged as a relevant topic in Germany’s foreign policy discussions. She argued that Berlin should more clearly embed its Taiwan policy into a broader Indo-Pacific strategy. Germany, she suggested, should show greater diplomatic courage in enabling official visits to and from Taiwan, normalize its participation in freedom of navigation operations, and strengthen cooperation at the subnational level—for example, through town twinning and other local partnerships.
Commenting on Dr. Wacker’s presentation, Member of Parliament Roderich Kiesewetter supported the call for a more strategic and values-driven approach to Taiwan. He stressed the importance of parliamentary engagement and emphasized that Germany must not shy away from its responsibility to support democratic partners under growing external pressure.
The third presentation, given by Antonia Hmaidi of the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS), focused on economic and technological dimensions. Her talk, titled "The Importance of Germany and Europe for Taiwan’s High-Tech Industry" („Die Bedeutung Deutschlands und Europas für die taiwanische High Tech-Industrie“), explored the logic behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) decision to invest in Dresden. Hmaidi explained that while political considerations play a role, customer-driven, geo-economic calculations were central to the investment. She argued in favor of deepening technological cooperation between Germany and Taiwan, including in the area of military and dual-use technologies, not at least because such collaboration could also function as a counter strategy against Chinese attempts to impose limits on how Europe engages with Taiwan.
Dr. Hsieh Liang-Han of Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) provided the commentary. He welcomed Hmaidi’s suggestions and affirmed Taiwan’s readiness to pursue high-level technological and strategic cooperation with Germany and the European Union. He emphasized that partnerships in secure supply chains and critical technology sectors offer concrete opportunities for mutual benefit.
The final talk was presented by Dr. Angela Stanzel, also of the SWP. Her presentation, titled "Resolution 2758 and the 'One China Principle' as Red Lines of Chinese Foreign Policy" („Die Resolution 2758 und das ‚Ein-China-Prinzip‘ als rote Linien chinesischer Außenpolitik“), clarified the frequent misunderstandings surrounding UN Resolution 2758. While the resolution granted the People’s Republic of China representation in the UN, Dr. Stanzel emphasized that it did not determine the international legal status of Taiwan. She explained the need to distinguish between China’s “One China principle” and the “One China policies” adopted individually by countries such as Germany. Furthermore, she warned that China’s strategic use of lawfare in relation to Taiwan is increasingly aimed at third parties, including European governments, with the intent of narrowing their diplomatic and legal room for maneuver. In such a context, Dr. Stanzel underlined the importance of terminological clarity and precision, not just in legal texts but also in public discourse.
Claudia Wessling of MERICS offered the final commentary. She praised the analytical depth of Dr. Stanzel’s presentation and emphasized the necessity of actively defending Europe’s linguistic and legal sovereignty. According to Wessling, how we name and frame issues around Taiwan significantly shapes both public understanding and policy options.
Concluding Discussion
The symposium concluded with a final discussion moderated by Prof. Dr. Gunter Schubert, Director of the ERCCT. This session served to synthesize the day’s insights and to reflect on the challenges ahead. A shared conclusion among participants was the urgent need for a coordinated, consistent, and long-term European approach to Taiwan—one that is both values-based and strategically grounded, going beyond isolated gestures to form a coherent framework for engagement.
The symposium provided an important forum for dialogue at the intersection of scholarship, policy, and diplomacy. It reflected a growing recognition of Taiwan’s relevance not only as a democratic partner but also as a key strategic actor in the Indo-Pacific. As international tensions mount and the pressure on liberal democracies increases, the ideas and proposals presented at this event offer a substantive basis for shaping a more principled and forward-looking German and European Taiwan policy.
