Germany does not maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. However, Taiwan and Germany are important partners; they share values and enjoy close and substantial economic, cultural, scientific and academic relations. 

German interests are looked after by the German Institute in Taipei. Moreover, Taiwan is home to the Goethe-Institut in Taipei, the German Trade Office Taipei and a Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI) office. 

There is also a German Academic Exchange Service Information Center. The German School Taipei forms part of the Taipei European School.

Taiwan maintains unofficial missions in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Frankfurt, and has a science and innovation officer in Bonn.

Taiwan is Germany’s fifth most important trading partner in Asia. Conversely, Germany is Taiwan’s most important trading partner in the European Union. Some 300 German businesses are active in Taiwan. Cooperation on renewable energies and technologies of the future in particular has intensified in recent years. Both sides have broad experience in these areas and regard them as having great potential.

Scientific and academic relations are likewise diverse. There are more than 200 partnership agreements between universities and research institutions, as well as lively academic exchange.

The double taxation agreement, an agreement to combat customs fraud and agreements on cooperation on battery research, energy transition issues and self-driving vehicles, as well as the cooperation agreed in 2019 on addressing the past, also underpin Germany’s efforts to further expand cooperation with Taiwan in the business, cultural, education, science and research sectors. A memorandum of understanding on the mutual recognition of driving licences was added in December 2019, in 2020 the two sides agreed on the introduction of automated border controls and a Joint Declaration of Intent on air services in July 2021.

Germany advocates Taiwan’s specialised participation in international organisations, for example the World Health Organization (WHO). Federal Minister of Health Dr Lauterbach asked in the frame of the World Health Assembly for a participation of Taiwan. In 2020, Taiwan donated personal protective equipment to Germany on several occasions and made an important and exemplary contribution to fighting the pandemic at global level.