How do the Handelsblatt readers feel about the Hamburger Hafen deal?

“A catastrophe”, “Just frustrating!” – that’s how many Handelsblatt readers look critically at the Hamburger Hafen deal. On Wednesday, the federal cabinet approved a limited entry by the Chinese state shipping company Cosco at a terminal in the port of Hamburg. However, the company is only allowed to hold a 24.9 percent stake in the container terminal in Tollerort, owned by the Hamburg port logistics group HHLA, instead of 35 percent.

However, one reader finds that Germany is already very dependent on China in many areas, as has been shown, for example, with the lockdowns in the People’s Republic. These had also had a negative impact on the local economy. Rather, Germany should try to reduce its dependence on China, says one reader.

“Perhaps one should ask oneself which ports in China are Germany or Europe involved in?” writes another reader, thus pointing out that China is taking a much more protectionist approach.

But there are also voices that are positive about the deal. “After all, with the port of Hamburg we are in European competition with Antwerp and Rotterdam, where Cosco is already involved!” writes a reader. In addition, the state-owned company would only take on a small proportion of the entire Port of Hamburg. Another reader also believes that Germany is accommodating China with the deal, but at the same time is keeping the relevant reins in hand.

We have put together a selection for you from the letters from the Handelsblatt readers.

A growing foot in the door

“‘We only open the door a crack,’ said Germany. ‘Thank you,’ China said, smiling, putting a growing foot inside.
Ignoring all warnings, our government is happily entering into a new autocratic relationship while we’re still paying for the last one. The profit for the German economy may be high in the short term. Only then, in the long term, it will no longer be the German economy.”
Andrea Matos

A win-win situation

“The deal with a reduced participation percentage seems like a foot in the door. On the one hand, they don’t want to mess things up with the Chinese, on the other hand, they don’t want to lose touch with the ports, where the Chinese are much more strongly positioned. At the same time, the risk is reduced if there should be hardened fronts with China.

The deal suits China, but you keep the relevant reins in your hand and are allowed to earn until further notice. According to the current status, one can speak of a win-win situation.”
Uwe Mies

Ask an important question

“Perhaps one should ask oneself which ports in China Germany or Europe is involved in.”
Stefan Dreyer

The German economy must become independent

“I am against China’s involvement because China’s influence would become too great. Regardless of the participation, it is already clear in many parts how dependent we are on China and how a lockdown there, for example, will affect Germany. Delivery difficulties are the consequences that paralyze our economy in many areas.

In my opinion, the alliance between the Chinese government and Russia makes the different interests clear, even if China appears neutral. We’ll have to wait and see what awaits us in the Taiwan-China conflict.

The German economy must become independent and should think long-term and not have any short-term profit expectations in mind.”
Sureya Hesse

>> Read about this: Dispute over port deal continues – Cosco warns: “No guarantee that the transaction will take place”

Just frustrating!

“Three ‘no’s’ to China’s participation in the Hamburg container port. Disregard for human rights, a claim to Taiwan with war gestures, dictatorship and closeness to Russia prohibit any Chinese participation in German companies.

The Port of Hamburg is a strategic anchor in northern Europe for China following its involvement in the Balkans. Does none of the decision-makers see that? Just frustrating!”
Carola Petri

A disaster

“In my view, the deal is a disaster. Six ministries are against participation, but in this case Mr. Scholz has the power to speak.

Should he be tormented by gaps in memory again in this case? There is no other way of explaining that he has once again suppressed the consequences of dependencies.”
Jorg Bachman

Convincing arguments against the deal

“On the Hamburg port deal with China: the relevant ministries have convincing arguments against it, Scholz for it. What speaks for Scholz: He can no longer remember important discussions and decisions after a few years.

Perhaps a compromise: China does not participate in Hamburger, but in my home port in Essen; we urgently need a new currywurst stand there :)”
Rüdiger Rauchholz

Let’s give China a chance to choose

“Why is our politics – expressly meaning the government and the opposition – currently countering all problems defensively? How about self-confidence and future-oriented action?

In the matter of the Hamburg port deal, for example, with the simultaneous demand for an equally large share of Chinese infrastructure. Let’s give China a chance to choose. So Germany doesn’t have to say no, or finally gets real access to Chinese companies.”
Michael Langenberger

Even more dependent on China

“In my opinion, Chinese companies getting involved in European infrastructure is very dangerous because it means we become even more dependent on China than we already are.

In my opinion it must be the other way around. That means we need to reduce dependency on China.

We can do that if we produce the parts that we need in production in the EU, produce in China only for the Chinese market and buy raw materials not only from China but also from other countries.”
Frank Knoedler

As in Monopoly

“It’s like Monopoly, whoever has the most streets and houses doesn’t always win. It is enough to have the right roads and houses.

And if our democracy only works when we need the money, oil, gas, chips, etc. from dictatorships or can only buy them there, then it is high time to rethink.”
Uli Gerber

For such a riot?

“As a freight forwarder, I am definitely in favor of Cosco participating in the Port of Hamburg! After all, with the port of Hamburg we are in European competition with Antwerp and Rotterdam, where Cosco is already involved!

What is this excitement about the economically clueless? To my knowledge, the Tollerort terminal is the smallest of the four container terminals in the Port of Hamburg, i.e. a quarter of four terminals. That means about 6 percent of the container loading capacity to a Chinese company!

For such a riot? no, no?”
Gerard Heinrich

>> Also read our pros and cons on the subject: Was it right to approve the China engagement in the port of Hamburg?

The spoonful of sugar too much

“How difficult is it that man learns from experience? Almost a one-third participation in an important infrastructure project is too much to prevent significant influence that is not in Germany’s interest.
20 percent do it too.”
Ulrich Kohler

Honest dealing with dependencies

“In view of Germany’s already existing dependencies in trade with China, a non-voting participation by a Chinese company in the port infrastructure in Hamburg is not particularly significant, but gives the port of Hamburg a competitive advantage over competing ports in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Rather, the energy of emotion in discussing this issue should be focused on an honest inventory of current existing dependencies on China and the initiation of appropriate strategies to reduce such dependencies.

Recent history shows that dealing honestly with such dependencies is often sacrificed for the seen economic advantage and that only in the event of a turning point does the extent of the dependencies become all the more painfully obvious, whereby the attempted solution then becomes very complex and consumes a lot of energy, time and money .”
Joseph Tiny

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More: In the past week, the Handelsblatt readership debated whether the Greens would remain true to themselves or bend too much.