According to Haldenwang, China would engage in espionage and actively seek influence. He argues that Germany must prepare for this. Furthermore, he warned of economic dependence on China, which could be exploited by the Chinese for political influence.
“China has established a long-term strategy to achieve its goals,” Haldenwang said. “Political leaders are using their economic headlock to achieve political goals in Germany and the European economies.
Assessment
The German government has valued its ties to authoritarian countries since the outbreak of war. Especially since the war has made it very clear where the vulnerabilities lie in Germany’s dependence on Russian gas.
According to Reuters, which holds the strategy documents, the German economy ministry wants to set stricter requirements for companies that trade extensively with China.