Ambassador summoned + Angela Stanzel on Taiwan • China.Table

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Dear reader,

The meetings with high-ranking politicians, photo ops and a medal ceremony in Taipei were barely over when Nancy Pelosi boarded the plane again and left for Seoul. She leaves behind a troubled region. One consequence of her incisive visit: German Ambassador Patricia Flor was summoned to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. The reason was Foreign Minister Baerbock’s support for Taiwan’s integrity amid rising tensions. Today, Marcel Grzanna analyzes why Beijing is using this harsh measure against Germany of all countries.

Beijing was extremely unhappy with Baerbock’s close association of the situation surrounding Taiwan with Ukraine. Ukraine is a diplomatically universally recognized country, according to Chinese perception, while Taiwan is an isolated territory. For Baerbock, on the other hand, the scenarios are similar: A superpower threatens its peaceful, smaller neighbor, with which it has a territorial dispute.

Of course, German foreign policy does not have to follow the Chinese line of thinking. But it is also striking how little dialogue the new German government has maintained with China so far. Of “partner and rival,” it is mostly rival. Even if personal visits by Scholz and Baerbock to Beijing are currently hard to arrange, now would be the time for a phase of intensive dialogue proposals to compensate for criticism, which may then be quite harsh.

Angela Stanzel of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs points out in an interview with Michael Radunski: Beijing’s sanctions are directed only against Taiwan and not against the USA. The People’s Liberation Army has wisely kept its distance from Pelosi’s plane, but now sanctions are being imposed on Taiwanese companies. A clever strategy. Instead of high-risk threats toward a superpower, Beijing is increasing the pressure on the island, which it considers its territory.

Another consequence of Pelosi’s visit: On Thursday, a Navy maneuver with live ammunition will start far too close to Taiwan’s coast. China also sanctions Taiwan’s economy with worrying consequences for supply chains. High-profile political observer Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy wrote down her assessment of the situation for us. The former advisor to the EU Parliament expects more visits to Taiwan by EU parliamentarians in the future to strengthen the island.

Your
Finn Mayer-Kuckuk

Feature

Pelosi: short visit with lasting effect

Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan has received approval from Germany. This is reason enough for the Chinese Foreign Ministry to summon the German ambassador. Like the US, the German government is committed to the One-China policy. But resistance to Beijing’s war cries is growing.

By
Marcel Grzanna

An 82-year-old woman is setting the world on edge. With a smile behind her face mask, Nancy Pelosi pointed out on Wednesday morning the imbalance with which the People’s Republic of China already reacted to the announcement of her visit to Taiwan. War, fire, death – the Chinese rhetorical arsenal knew practically no apocalyptic limit.

By contrast, when a handful of US senators and parliamentarians made two days of official appointments in the island nation in April, Beijing was much more restrained in its threatening gestures. Back then, “not so much of a fuss was made,” Pelosi said during a press conference alongside Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen. Perhaps that is now the rationale for the massive threats, Pelosi speculated. “Because they didn’t say anything when the men came.” Laughter in the room.

But the humorous Pelosi was also able to be serious. She garnished her less than 24 hours short trip to Taiwan with numerous messages to the hosts, the world, and above all, the People’s Republic. She said that Beijing could make sure that Taiwan would not participate in international meetings of the international community. But she (Pelosi) hoped it had become clear through her visit that China could not stand in the way “of people coming to Taiwan”.

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