The German minister of education is visiting Taiwan, the first such visit in 26 years

German Minister of Education in Taiwan / Photo EPA-EFE/RITCHIE B. TONGO

Germany's education minister signed a technological cooperation agreement with Taiwan today at the start of the first visit by a German minister to the island country in 26 years.

Bettina Stark-Watzinger signed a science and technology agreement with Taiwan during the first day of a visit that drew sharp criticism from China. Beijing considers Taiwan its territory and opposes other countries' diplomatic relations with Taipei.

China has stepped up military, diplomatic and economic pressure on the island nation following a series of visits by officials from the US, Europe and other parts of the world.

At the signing ceremony in Taipei, Stark-Watzinger said it was a "great pleasure and honor" to be the first German minister to visit Taiwan in more than two decades.

"This agreement will strengthen cooperation based on democratic values, transparency, openness, reciprocity and scientific freedom," she said.

China's Foreign Ministry said it "strongly opposes" the "malicious" visit.

Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China urged Germany to "immediately" end "interaction with separatist forces in Taiwan, immediately stop sending them the wrong signal, and immediately stop using the Taiwan issue to interfere in the internal affairs of China".

Germany's foreign ministry last week reaffirmed its commitment to the "one China" policy, under which it has formal bilateral ties with Beijing but also maintains "close and good ties with Taiwan."

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