Chinese FM Criticises Education Minister's Taiwan Visit

MNI (London) - Wires reporting comments from the Chinese Foreign Ministry criticising the visit of Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger to Taiwan, stating that China 'firmly opposes' the visit and that it had mad a 'serious demarche' to the German embassy in Beijing and to the gov't in Berlin. An unnamed German Foreign Office source states that it has 'taken note' of the Chinese reaction to the visit, which its says 'is in line with our one China policy'.

• Stark-Watzinger, from the smallest party in the tripartite federal coalition the pro-business liberal Free Democrats (FDP), called Taiwan Germany's "esteemed partner", adding that it is "extremely important to my ministry and me to promote cooperation with like-minded partners".
• There remain major divisions evident within the German federal coalition regarding Berlin's stance towards China. The FDP and the environmentalist Greens (represented by Foreign Min Annalena Baerbock and Economy Minster Robert Habeck at the top table of gov't) have proved much more hawkish towards Beijing and supportive of Taiwan.
• Meanwhile, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's centre-left Social Democrats have advocated maintaining closer links and continued dialogue with Beijing (Scholz led a sizeable business delegation to meet w/President Xi Jinping in late-2022).