Published: Less than 20 min ago
German Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger signed an agreement on technological cooperation with Taiwan on Tuesday, also kicking off the first government-level German visit to the island in 26 years.
At the signing in Taipei, Stark-Watzinger said it was “a great pleasure and an honor” for her to be the first German minister to visit the island in more than two decades.
“This arrangement symbolizes a strengthened collaboration, based on democratic values, transparency, openness, reciprocity and scientific freedom,” she said.
The German visit to Taiwan is, however, harshly criticized by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“China has expressed protests and strong dissatisfaction with our German counterparts in Beijing and Berlin,” spokesman Wang Wenbin said during a press briefing on Tuesday.