Reliance on China remains an Achilles heel of the German economy. Inside the German cabinet it can be quite messy when discussing the country. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will visit China to discuss diplomatic relations between the two countries. The big question is how he will speak diplomatically on sensitive issues such as the Uyghurs, Russia and Taiwan.
This is not a trade mission. While French President Emmanuel Macron concluded interesting deals with Beijing last week, Baerbock will mainly discuss diplomatic relations between the countries. This will be viewed with suspicion in Berlin, underlines German correspondent Derk Marseille. “If you were to look through the beautiful glass dome of the Bundestag, you would see the fragments of expensive Chinese porcelain vases lying on the floor.”
“That crackles, of course, and that’s why people look forward to that visit with such enthusiasm”
For example, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has not yet embraced Baerbock’s China strategy, even though the tone in the latest version is a little less ferocious than in the original variant. Baerbock will not avoid all sensitive issues, Marseille believes. «He would still like to be able to go through the same door with his wardrobe. But he will want to be clear about a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan and that China should not get involved with Russia in the war in Ukraine.’
Important partner export markets
Numerous company visits are also planned. After all, China is still an important technology partner for Germany, says Marseille. ‘China tops all the lists when it comes to trade with Germany and is by far the world’s most important partner for the export markets of large German companies. This crackles, of course, which is why people look forward to this visit.’
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
