On August 18, German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Johann Wadephul met with Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya for the first Germany-Japan strategic dialogue. During the joint press conference following the meeting, Minister Wadephul stated that Germany and Japan shared common security interests in the Indo-Pacific, including the Taiwan Strait and the South and East China Seas. He expressed concern over tensions in the Indo-Pacific and China’s repeated open threats to unilaterally change the status quo. He also remarked that the UN Charter’s explicit prohibition of the use of force applied to these regions. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung deeply appreciates and welcomes Minister Wadephul’s statements.

Moreover, in a press release issued on August 17, prior to Minister Wadephul’s visit to Japan and Indonesia, the German Federal Foreign Office pointed out that China’s increasingly aggressive stance in the Taiwan Strait and in the East and South China Seas had consequences for Europe, and that basic rules of global cooperation were at stake. It added that Europe was countering this and remained committed to safeguarding an international order based on laws and rules.

Minister Wadephul’s renewed citing of the UN Charter’s prohibition of the use of force while reiterating his stance on peace in the Taiwan Strait demonstrates that cross-strait peace and stability align with the interests of Germany and like-minded countries and are a matter of international consensus. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to work with Germany and other democratic countries to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region, defend democracy and freedom, and uphold the rules-based international order. 

Related Link(s)

• German Federal Foreign Office’s official press release issued before Minister Wadephul’s trip

Related video

• Joint press conference following Germany-Japan meeting