Germany is set to announce its China strategy this week. While the Netherlands has had such a strategy for four years. According to Europe correspondent Stefan de Vries, EU member states are failing to project unity towards Beijing. “Interests are too different to talk about a common Chinese policy.”
The German and Chinese economies are extremely intertwined. As many as one million German jobs depend directly on China. “And indirectly much more,” says correspondent Stefan de Vries. For example, the German automotive industry has received a huge boost from exports to China.
“German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock says the time for being naïve is over”
But that could change with the new strategy. “German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the time for us to be naïve is over,” De Vries said. ‘This will be reflected in the new strategy which will be presented today. Baerbok said Germany has learned the hard way that unilateral dependency can make a country vulnerable. Germany must now formulate a response to this.’
Not all cakes and eggs
“I think we can expect Germany to move further away from China with the new strategy,” the Europe correspondent said. “The country will recognize that it is not all sweet and egg and will support greater European industrial cooperation, with the aim of combating dependence on China.”
It therefore appears that European countries will each develop their own strategy. Because the Netherlands has such a Chinese strategy for four years now. “We have a special position because we are the leader in chip technology in the EU,” says de Vries. “So the Netherlands realized just before that China could also be a problem.”
Navigate between threats and opportunities
While the country also continues to offer opportunities. This is what makes navigation so difficult. And opinions within Europe differ greatly on this. Some countries don’t feel threatened and look mainly at the benefits.’ Unanimity is therefore hard to come by, says De Vries.
Source: BNR
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