Former Taiwan president Tsai to visit Germany in outreach to Europe

Former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will visit Berlin to address a conference next week, her office said on Wednesday, as the diplomatically isolated island pushes ahead with a new outreach to Europe.

Chinese-claimed and democratically governed Taiwan has formal diplomatic ties only with the Vatican in Europe, but countries from Britain and France to Lithuania and Poland have disregarded Beijing's complaints to allow visits by acting or former senior Taiwan officials.

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In September, Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung made two trips to Europe, visiting countries such as Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland and Italy.

Speaking to reporters in Taipei earlier on Wednesday, Lin said he went to Europe to strengthen relations, adding that his ministry had set up a "Europe task force".

Tsai, a fluent English speaker who remains an influential political figure in Taiwan, has already visited other European countries since stepping down, including Britain and France.

Last year before Tsai headed to Europe on a similar visit, Taiwan's presidential office said she had Lai's full support to promote the island's relations with the continent.

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