Russia's invasion of Ukraine has shown Berlin that it should become less economically dependent on China, a German lawmaker said Wednesday during a high-profile visit to Taiwan.

A delegation of German parliamentarians arrived in Taipei this week ahead of an anticipated ministerial visit later this year, sparking condemnation from Beijing.

China's leaders claim the self-ruled democratic island as part of its territory to be seized one day, by force if necessary.

Russia's war in Ukraine has deepened fears among Western powers that Chinese President Xi Jinping might try something similar.

Johannes Vogel, vice chairman of the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP), said during his Taiwan visit Germany's economy was overly reliant on China.

"We should think about how can we rebalance dependence on the Chinese market for example," he told reporters in Taipei.

"In Germany, we have been too dependent on Russian gas, and we cannot be that dependent in whatever area or in whatever way on an authoritarian regime."

He said some companies have started to realise how dangerous such heavy dependence can be and that "diversification is a good idea".

China was Germany's largest trading partner in 2021.

Vogel declined to directly answer whether Germany had a "moral obligation" to provide Taipei with weapons to defend itself in the event of a Chinese attack.

"It is a moral obligation I think of everybody to avoid military aggressions in the Taiwan Strait," he replied.

"We think the economic dimension of avoiding a horrible scenario is something we can effectively bring on the table."

The trip is set to be followed by a visit from German Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger, also of the FDP, in the next few months, sources told AFP.

It would be the first by a member of the German cabinet in 26 years.

Germany's diplomatic overtures to Taiwan have riled China.

Beijing invoked Germany's "painful" history while slamming the visit on Monday, in an apparent reference to the country's wartime record.

"The root cause of the Taiwan problem is precisely that the law of the jungle, hegemonism, colonialism, militarism and nationalism were rampant in the world, and China suffered deeply from them," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters.

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In wargame exercise, China fails to take Taiwan: US thinktank
Washington (AFP) Jan 10, 2023
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