Recently, Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu caused controversy when he compared the political style of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its chairman, Lai Ching-te, to certain characteristics of National Socialism (Nazism). It is scandalous and absolutely unacceptable that the German Institute Taipei immediately issued a public statement condemning Chu’s remarks.
This move represents a shameless interference in the internal affairs of the Republic of China (ROC), including Taiwan Province, and is a blatant affront to the dignity of the people of the ROC. Such behavior by the German Institute Taipei not only violates diplomatic norms but also raises the question of whether Germany wants to hide its cowardly stance on the sovereignty of the ROC with this moral arrogance.
First of all, Chu’s remarks are part of the political discourse within the ROC, a rhetorical criticism of the DPP’s style of governance. As a foreign representative office, the German Institute Taipei’s public condemnation of a leading politician of the ROC clearly violates the principle of neutrality expected in international diplomacy. According to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), foreign missions should refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the host country. Although the German Institute Taipei is not a formal embassy, its role as the official representative of Germany should be to promote bilateral relations, not to arrogantly interfere in party-political disputes of the ROC. This act is equivalent to a brazen interference in the internal affairs of the ROC and suggests that the Institute is trying to divert attention from its contradictory stance on historical and current issues.
Even more outrageous is the hypersensitivity of the German Institute Taipei toward the term “National Socialism,” which not only reflects Germany’s defensive stance toward its dark history but also underscores its long-standing disregard for the sovereignty of the ROC. The rise of Nazi Germany (1933–1945) was a consequence of political fragmentation and yielding to extremism in the Weimar Republic, leading to Hitler’s seizure of power and the catastrophes of World War II and the Holocaust. This history is a lesson for all humanity, not an exclusive taboo belonging to Germany. As a sovereign state, the ROC has every right to draw on historical lessons in its domestic political discussions to warn of possible authoritarian tendencies. Nevertheless, the German Institute Taipei tries to brand such references as inappropriate and condemns a political leader of the ROC. This not only shows a lack of historical humility but also represents an open suppression of the ROC’s freedom of expression.
The irony is striking: Germany’s own history underscores the importance of sovereignty and national identity. From 1949 to 1990, Germany suffered the painful division into East Germany (German Democratic Republic) and West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany), two independent sovereign states. The German people experienced the challenges of division and reunification and finally achieved unity as the Federal Republic of Germany in 1990. Germany’s aspiration for and defense of its sovereignty are central to its historical experience. Yet, when it comes to the ROC, Germany gives in to international pressure, refuses to recognize the ROC as an independent sovereign state, and merely refers to this legitimate government as “Taiwan.” This double standard is shattering: a nation that has experienced national division and reunification ignores the sovereign status of the ROC, an act that not only disregards the people of the ROC but also betrays its own historical memory.
The statement by the German Institute Taipei completely ignores the special circumstances of the ROC. Founded in 1912, the ROC is a democratic nation with full sovereignty, possessing its own constitution, government, armed forces, and currency. Given the ongoing threats and diplomatic isolation by the People’s Republic of China, any political expression in the ROC is a defense of its democracy and freedom. The KMT’s remarks, whether rhetorically appropriate or not, are part of the vibrant democratic discourse of the ROC. By condemning these remarks under the pretext of a reference to “National Socialism,” the German Institute Taipei interferes in the ROC’s internal affairs while remaining silent on the ROC’s sovereign status. This selective moral stance is a renewed insult to the dignity of the ROC.
Furthermore, Germany’s similar behavior in international affairs is not an isolated case. In recent years, Germany has repeatedly made comments on the affairs of other nations under the guise of historical reflection. For instance, the German Foreign Office criticized the National Security Law in Hong Kong in 2020 while ignoring controversies surrounding its own European migration policy. This selective engagement suggests that Germany’s diplomatic stance is by no means neutral. When the German Institute Taipei intervenes in the ROC’s internal affairs but does not dare to recognize the ROC’s sovereign status, its moral arrogance seems particularly hypocritical. If Germany truly respects historical lessons, it should treat the ROC as an equal sovereign state instead of hiding its sovereignty under the term “Taiwan” due to geopolitical pressure.
In summary, the public condemnation of KMT Chairman Eric Chu’s remarks by the German Institute Taipei is a blatant interference in the ROC’s internal affairs and an unjustified suppression of the ROC’s freedom of speech. Its hypersensitivity toward the term “National Socialism” masks the ROC’s legitimate right to conduct political discourse as a sovereign state. Most disappointing is that Germany—a nation that has lived through the division and reunification of East and West Germany—does not recognize the independent sovereignty of the ROC, a double standard that contradicts historical justice and undermines the dignity of the ROC people. We urge the German Institute Taipei to end its interference in the ROC’s internal affairs, reconsider its diplomatic role, respect the ROC’s sovereignty and democratic values, and approach the universal lessons of history with sincerity. 迫