TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan envoy Shieh Jhy-wey (謝志偉) ended nine years of service in Germany on Thursday before moving to Brussels to serve as representative to Belgium and the EU.

Top German politicians including Foreign Ministry Director for Asia and the Pacific Frank Hartmann and former Bundestag Vice President Hermann Otto Solms spoke at his farewell reception in Berlin, per CNA. The prominent attendees expressed continued support for Taiwan.

Hartmann explained how Germany’s impression of Taiwan had changed over the nine years since Shieh took office. The general idea now is that Taiwan is an extremely important economic and political partner in Asia, he said.

When German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul visited Japan and Indonesia in August, he repeatedly emphasized how the situation in the Taiwan Strait should not be altered by military force. The UN ban on the use of force should also apply to Taiwan, German officials said. 

As soon as something happened to Taiwan, the interests of the EU and Germany would be seriously affected, Hartmann told the reception.

Numerous German lawmakers attended the event, noting Shieh’s knowledge of the German language and culture. They expressed the wish he could transfer his experience and friendship for Germany to Europe and Brussels, 700 kilometers away from Berlin.