President Lai Meets German Delegation, Seeks Deeper Cooperation

According to the Central News Agency, President Lai Ching-te met with a cross-party delegation led by Till Steffen, chair of the German-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, at the Presidential Office today. President Lai stated that in the face of rapidly changing international circumstances, democratic partners must work together to maintain a rules-based international order. He emphasized that Taiwan and Germany share universal values such as democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. Lai specifically highlighted TSMC's investment in Dresden as a significant milestone in industrial cooperation, contributing to the resilience of global democratic supply chains. In response to criticism from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Steffen stated that exchanges between democratic societies are normal and that they will not accept interference from third parties. Both sides agreed to deepen partnerships in areas such as cybersecurity, defense industries, and disaster relief.