During her trip to China, the Foreign Minister found clear words and criticized her Chinese counterpart Qin Gang.
(Photo: via REUTERS)
It was an unusual joint appearance by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) and her Chinese counterpart Qin Gang. Unusual because Baerbock, like Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz during his visit in November, primarily cited critical points in the relationship in his public statement in Beijing.
But also unusual because Qin used a subsequent question to react to this criticism with harsh words. Behind the scenes it must have been similarly direct.
The visit showed very clearly how the relationship between Beijing and Berlin has changed. The change in handling is partly due to the change in the German government a year and a half ago. Greens and FDP have had a critical view of China for a long time.
The SPD, for its part, has at least partially learned from the mistakes of the past and is no longer as naïve in its dealings with the Chinese government as it was in the days of the grand coalition – even if a “China Paper” by the conservative but influential Seeheimer Kreis on the China Friday’s politics shows how far some comrades still have to go to get a realistic picture of China.
But it is mainly due to China itself that the relationship has changed. In particular, the fact that China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping still stands by Vladimir Putin even after more than a year of brutal Russian war of aggression has left deep scars on the European image of China. Beijing is becoming increasingly aggressive on the outside and increasingly repressive on the inside.
>> Read here: Baerbock exchanges blows with a Chinese counterpart
It was right that Baerbock addressed the points of conflict publicly. The visit showed that China can certainly deal with criticism from the German side: Despite the exchange of blows, Baerbock had high-level appointments, the meeting with China’s top foreign politician Wang Yi, from the Chinese point of view actually above the foreign minister, took place on Saturday despite the clear words of the day before.
Words of praise for Baerbock
The Chinese state media even praised Baerbock for her performance. “Some voices” had hoped, according to the nationalist “Global Times”, that Baerbock would show toughness during her visit to China. But that didn’t happen. “While she was considerate of the feelings of the Western public, she emphasized the importance of Sino-German cooperation,” the newspaper said.
Only in Germany do some still have to get used to the rougher tone. SPD politicians, in particular, confuse being resolute in defending their own interests with undifferentiated blustering. Clarity is particularly important when dealing with China.
The example of the USA shows this: Even at the most heated times of the trade dispute, the Americans still had the best access to Chinese decision-makers.
More: SPD wing criticizes Baerbock and Habeck – and warns of “general suspicion” against China