Taiwan VP-elect's Europe Visit Sparks Controversy Over German Travel Restrictions

Taiwan's Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim's March 2024 visit to Europe has ignited a controversy surrounding reported travel restrictions imposed by the German government. Hsiao's trip included stops in the Czech Republic, Belgium, Poland, and Lithuania, with transit through Frankfurt, Germany, for convenience, comfort, and security.

Why this matters: The controversy highlights the complexities of Taiwan'sdiplomatic relations with European countries, particularly Germany, and raises questions about the potential impact on future high-level exchanges between Taiwan and Germany. As Taiwan seeks to strengthen its ties with Europe, this incident underscores the delicate balance that European governments must strike between maintaining relations with Taiwan and adhering to their one-China policies.

According to Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Hsiao's visit was successful and uneventful. German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christian Wagner confirmed that Hsiao traveled via Frankfurt and emphasized that Taiwanese citizens can travel freely to Germany. However, Wagner also noted that the German government's one-China policy aims to "avoid contact with officials associated with (Taiwan) sovereignty."

The controversy arose when Jakub Janda, head of the European Values Center for Security Policy, tweeted that Hsiao was not allowed to transit by ground transport in Germany and never left Dresden airport during her visit. However, neither MOFA nor Wagner clarified whether Hsiao's itinerary included a trip to Dresden or if she was indeed held up at Dresden airport as alleged.

The alleged travel restrictions have been linked to German ChancellorOlaf Scholz'sscheduled visit to China in April 2024. According to an analysis by the German Marshall Fund, Hsiao's request to travel through southern Germany as a private citizen was denied, potentially due to the upcoming high-level visit.

The incident highlights the complexities of Taiwan's diplomatic relations with European countries, particularly Germany, which adheres to a one-China policy. It comes at a time when Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) is set to build a fab in Dresden, with construction scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of 2024.

As Taiwan seeks to strengthen its ties with Europe, the controversy surrounding Hsiao's visit underscores the delicate balance that European governments must strike between maintaining relations with Taiwan and adhering to their one-China policies. The incident also raises questions about the potential impact on future high-level exchanges between Taiwan and Germany, as well as the broader implications for Taiwan'sinternational engagement.

Key Takeaways

• Taiwan's VP-elect Hsiao Bi-khim's March 2024 Europe trip sparks controversy over German travel restrictions.
• Germany's one-China policy aims to "avoid contact with officials associated with (Taiwan) sovereignty."
• Hsiao's transit through Frankfurt, Germany, was reportedly restricted, with unclear details on Dresden airport stop.
• Incident linked to German Chancellor's scheduled April 2024 visit to China, highlighting diplomatic complexities.
• Controversy underscores delicate balance between Taiwan-Europe ties and one-China policies.