Status: 08/05/2022 07:26 a.m
German MPs have been planning a trip to Taiwan for a long time. One of them said they didn’t want to be deterred by a “threats-breathing dragon,” despite tensions with China after US politician Pelosi’s visit.
The Human Rights Committee of the Bundestag is planning a trip to Taiwan for the end of October. The dpa news agency learned from several members of the committee that it should be applied for at the beginning of September at the latest.
The trip is not a reaction to the controversial visit by US MP Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, but had been planned for some time. It is scheduled to take place between October 22nd and 30th and will go to Japan and Hong Kong in addition to Taiwan.
It is expected that MPs from all six parliamentary groups will take part in the trip, probably two each from the two largest groups SPD and CDU/CSU. The delegation would thus include a total of eight parliamentarians.
“A little more Asian discipline would be appropriate”
Possible protests by China against the trip are no reason for the CDU human rights expert Michael Brand to refrain from doing so. “The Chinese leadership must be careful not to become just a threat-spewing dragon on the international stage. A little more Asian discipline would be appropriate,” said Brand, who wants to travel with him.
Among others, the FDP politician Peter Heidt and the Green politician Boris Mijatovic are to come from the coalition. Mijatovic points out that Taiwan is also an important trading partner for Germany. That’s why such a trip by parliamentarians is “normal,” he said.
There have also been trips by members of the Bundestag to Taiwan in the past. The Human Rights Committee last planned a trip in 2020, which was canceled due to Corona.
China refuses official contact with Taipei
China regards democratic Taiwan as part of its national territory and therefore strictly rejects official contacts from other countries to Taipei.
Pelosi’s visit had escalated tensions with China this week. The People’s Liberation Army of China announced target practice maneuvers around the island and near the coast by Sunday, designating six restricted areas.