German MP visits Taiwan, calls for reducing China reliance and highlights Taiwan as key AI partner

As German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche visits China this week to demand a fairer competitive environment, Till Steffen, chair of the German-Taiwan parliamentary friendship group, stated in an interview that if Germany wants to maintain its global competitiveness in AI and next-gen industries, it cannot over-rely on China. He emphasized that Taiwan is a key partner for Germany's AI development and alternative supply chains. Steffen noted that Germany is currently highly dependent on China for critical areas like battery supply and must actively seek alternatives. He warned that if China were to take control of Taiwan by force, it would cause a more severe impact on the global economy than the Russia-Ukraine war or the COVID-19 pandemic.