Taipei, Sept. 22 (CNA) Germany's de facto embassy in Taiwan is expanding its diplomatic presence as Berlin seeks to deepen relations with Taipei, the country's new representative Karsten Tietz said in an exclusive interview with CNA on Thursday. "We now define our relations with Taiwan" in line with Germany's Strategy on China, which emphasizes the need to de-risk Germany's economic relations with China and diversify supply chains, Tietz said. So we are looking for other partners to diversify, and Taiwan is one of them," he said. Given Taiwan's growing importance to Berlin's agenda, the representative said the German Institute Taipei will add four new staff members by January 2026, bringing the total to 25, including local hires. Tietz said the passage of the German vessels through international waters was an act of freedom of navigation and that it "should not be an issue at all."