The Taiwanese government has embarked on an effort to achieve transitional justice. What are your observations so far?
Martin Eberts: I am not in a position to comment on what is going on here, but I can talk about our experience. I think every society needs to come to terms with the past.
It is important to do that with complete honesty and without reservations or taboo on the one hand, and with a sense of responsibility and readiness for reconciliation and forgiveness on the other.
Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times
That way, dealing with the past can be a healthy and useful experience for the whole society.
I think education is also a very important issue. We need to see to it that our curricula in schools are complete, correct and reflect the past in the right way. There should not be taboo or white-washing of the past.
Last year, the German health minister spoke up for Taiwan’s bid to attend the World Health Assembly. This year, you spoke twice in support of Taiwan’s participation at the annual health conference. Why has Germany become increasingly willing to lend public support to Taiwan’s international participation?
Eberts: I think it is important that in all these matters, we do not allow a white spot to emerge on the map of the world, so to speak. For example, for international health policy, we must have all relevant partners on board. It is obvious that Taiwan is an important and very capable partner in that.
Another example is air traffic. Taoyuan is one of the biggest international hubs in Asia, how can Taiwan be excluded from the International Civil Aviation Organization? That would not only be stupid, but also dangerous and politically bad. We must prevent ideologies from pushing aside good arguments.
As we see it, the pressure to push Taiwan out of these fora is mounting. That is why we must speak up more than before. Besides, these issues also concern stability in the region. We do not want stability to be undermined because Taiwan is being put under undue pressure.
Many international airlines have been forced by Beijing to change their designations for Taiwan. What is your view on this?
Eberts: I think it is deplorable that this kind of ideological battle is being fought. I do not see anybody profiting from that. It is neither practical, nor politically responsible to put pressure on international airlines to change the name of Taiwan in an odd way, and sometimes even in a misleading way.
The position of the [German] federal government is that we will do everything to support and maintain the “status quo” and a healthy and peaceful relationship across the Taiwan Strait.
As our then-minster of foreign affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier said right after the 2016 presidential election in Taiwan: “We want the meaningful participation of Taiwan in international affairs and we do not want to see any coercion in cross-strait relations.”
This is still the basis of our policy. If we see things happening that go against that, we must speak up, otherwise we will not be credible. Obviously, the Western partners of Taiwan are not giving up on Taiwan, so whoever is thinking about next year’s strategy should keep that in mind.
As you are to leave your post later this month, how many boxes have you checked for the goals you set when entering the office in August 2014?
Eberts: We always have to be ambitious and try to achieve more than we can, but I think it is fair to say that we have achieved a lot in these four years. If we look back, there are new forms of cooperation and new subjects that we have touched upon. Also, we managed to lift the level of political exchanges to a higher level.
What is your favorite part of Taiwan and what are you going to miss the most?
Eberts: I think my favorite is the nice, friendly and open-minded people here. I have been in the diplomatic service for 32 years, so I can really compare with other countries. I can hardly remember feeling at home and being welcomed as quickly as I was here in Taiwan.
Then of course, it is a beautiful country. We like traveling around and exploring Taiwan. I like the Taroko National Park and Sun Moon Lake very much. Also, I have been to Penghu twice. My first visit to Penghu was very special. We were received by a family of fishers who showed us everything, including their boat. That was a fascinating sight, not what you usually get as a traveling diplomat.
My next assignment, which is still in the region, is Indonesia. I can come back often — and I will.
DEFENSE: The National Security Bureau promised to expand communication and intelligence cooperation with global partners and enhance its strategic analytical skills China has not only increased military exercises and “gray zone” tactics against Taiwan this year, but also continues to recruit military personnel for espionage, the National Security Bureau (NSB) said yesterday in a report to the Legislative Yuan. The bureau submitted the report ahead of NSB Director-General Tsai Ming-yen’s (蔡明彥) appearance before the Foreign and National Defense Committee today. Last year, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted “Joint Sword-2024A and B” military exercises targeting Taiwan and carried out 40 combat readiness patrols, the bureau said. In addition, Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan’s airspace 3,070 times last year, up about
The Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) yesterday announced a fundraising campaign to support survivors of the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, with two prayer events scheduled in Taipei and Taichung later this week. “While initial rescue operations have concluded [in Myanmar], many survivors are now facing increasingly difficult living conditions,” OCAC Minister Hsu Chia-ching (徐佳青) told a news conference in Taipei. The fundraising campaign, which runs through May 31, is focused on supporting the reconstruction of damaged overseas compatriot schools, assisting students from Myanmar in Taiwan, and providing essential items, such as drinking water, food and medical supplies,
STRICTER ENFORCEMENT: Taipei authorities warned against drunk cycling after a sharp rise in riding under the influence, urging greater public awareness of its illegality Taipei authorities have issued a public warning urging people not to ride bicycles after consuming alcohol, following a sharp rise in riding under the influence (DUI) cases involving bicycles. Five hundred and seven people were charged with DUI last year while riding YouBikes, personal bicycles, or other self-propelled two-wheelers — a fourfold increase from the previous year, data released by the Taipei Police Department’s Traffic Division showed. Of these, 33 cases were considered severe enough to be prosecuted under “offenses against public safety,” the data showed. Under the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例), bicycles — including YouBikes and other
A magnitude 4.3 earthquake struck eastern Taiwan's Hualien County at 8:31am today, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA). The epicenter of the temblor was located in Hualien County, about 70.3 kilometers south southwest of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 23.2km, according to the administration. There were no immediate reports of damage resulting from the quake. The earthquake's intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a temblor, was highest in Taitung County, where it measured 3 on Taiwan's 7-tier intensity scale. The quake also measured an intensity of 2 in Hualien and Nantou counties, the CWA said.
RSS