President Chen Shui-bian received a delegation of German parliamentarians at the Office of the President on March 22, extending his gratitude for Germany's long-time support in Taiwan issues and urging the German government to loosen restrictions on Taiwan high-ranking officials' visits to the country.
At the meeting, the president first appreciated the hospitality and warmth extended by the German government to his wife during her stay in Germany in June 2003.
Germany's support for Taiwan is far more than evident. Recent examples are: in October 2004, the German parliament passed a resolution stating that the lift of the arms embargo against China is deferred ad infinitum until China improves its human rights record, resolves cross-strait disputes by peaceful means, and guarantees not to sell massive destructive weapons to third countries. Also, respectively in March and May 2005, upon the Chinese passage of its "Anti-Separation Law," German parliamentarians proposed a bill to oppose the lifting of the embargo ban against China. For these reasons, the president expressed to the guests his deepest appreciation.
The Taiwan-Germany cooperation has been undertaken in many ways. While in terms of international trade, Germany is Taiwan's largest partner in Europe and the sixth in the world and Taiwan is Germany's fourth largest partner in Asia. Germany has also actively engaged in, and contributed to Taiwan's major infrastructural constructions like the subway systems in Taipei and Kaohsiung, Taiwan high-speed railway, and, most remarkably, the tallest building in the world--Taipei 101.
Therefore, basing on the existing cooperation framework between the two countries, the president told the guests that Taiwan would ask Germany for further support. "While understanding that Germany complies with the 'One-China Principle'," the president said, "I nonetheless hope that the German government would lift the restrictions against Taiwan high-ranking officials' visits to Germany," citing the fact that the United States of America has no problems with Taiwan officials' visits to, or transits on its territory.
On the other hand, in regard to prevention and control of such emerging infectious diseases as SARS and avian flu, the president asked the guests and their government for support. "Health and disease prevention know no national boundaries," the president emphasized to the guests, adding that these urgent issues "neither should be politicized nor are related to the concern of sovereignty." "Taiwan, therefore, should not be left as the missing link in the global health network," the president concluded.
The delegation was headed by Parliamentarian Jens Spahn, and the other delegates were Parliamentarians Stephan Mayer, Thomas Bareiss, and Gunter Krings.