Berlin Just in time for the visit of Annalena Baerbock (Greens), the heavy sandstorm that had shrouded northern China in a dense fog over the past few days has cleared. When the Foreign Minister sets off on her inaugural trip to the People’s Republic on Wednesday evening, blue skies may even await her upon arrival.
For Baerbock, the trip to China is probably the most difficult journey of her tenure so far. Because of her sharp statements in Beijing, the German foreign minister is considered a kind of regime critic. For example, the Greens politician spoke out against the participation of the Chinese state-owned company Cosco in the port of Hamburg and even made some demands on the trip to Chancellor Olaf Scholz before his first visit last November.
In addition, Baerbock travels to Beijing in politically difficult times. China is skeptical about how the federal government imposes tougher conditions on companies doing business with the People’s Republic in order to become more economically independent of the giant empire. Beijing is also suspicious of the new China strategy that the federal government is working on.
In Germany, on the other hand, the recent ties between Beijing and Moscow are being closely monitored. Every detail of Baerbock’s visit will therefore provide indications of how relations between the two countries are doing before the planned German-Chinese government consultations this summer.
Although Scholz and Baerbock agree that the German economy must become more independent due to increasing geopolitical tensions, both the Green Economics Ministry and the Foreign Ministry led by Baerbock are considered more critical of the People’s Republic. When the federal government took office, Beijing had backed Scholz because of the “extreme views of the Greens” (state newspaper “Global Times”).
Economy welcomes Baerbock’s journey
The German economy, which recently made record investments in China despite warnings from politicians, is therefore keeping a close eye on Baerbock’s journey. As is usual when foreign ministers travel, business representatives are not traveling with them. However, according to information from the Handelsblatt, there are some appointments with local business representatives.
“The fact that the minister gives a lot of space to meetings with German business representatives shows the importance of economic ties,” praised Jens Hildebrandt, executive board member of the German Chamber of Commerce in China (AHK).
Jörg Wuttke, President of the EU Chamber of Commerce in Beijing and who has been familiar with China for many years, also welcomed the travel plans: “For a Foreign Minister, Baerbock has many appointments with the local economy,” says Wuttke. “It’s a positive sign for companies.”
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The German government’s China strategy has caused uncertainty among German entrepreneurs in recent months, says Volker Treier, head of foreign trade at the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK). The China strategy will play a central role in Baerbock’s talks with her Chinese counterpart Qin Gang before the foreign minister flies on to South Korea on Saturday and from there to the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Japan.
Demand for a level playing field
The German economy demands that Baerbock also address critical economic issues during her trip to China. “German industry expects the Foreign Minister to stand up for reliability, compliance with international rules and transparency, market access and fair competition with the Chinese leadership,” said Wolfgang Niedermark, member of the executive board of the Federation of German Industries (BDI). A level playing field must be created in trade and investment relations, not least in terms of access to technologies.
China is challenging the international rules-based order and undermining the logic of free markets and open trade with its quest for security and control, Niedermark warned. “It is right and necessary that Germany and Europe strengthen their economic and technological resilience and competitiveness while we continue to seek communication and exchange with China.”
But Baerbock also has the task of straightening out Europe’s recent inconsistent appearance in Beijing. Due to the unsuccessful visit to China by French President Emmanuel Macron last week, your visit has become even more important.
Macron hardly found any critical words against China during his visit.
(Photo: dpa)
Macron came with a large business delegation, had numerous company contracts signed and said in an interview that he wanted to establish equidistance in relations with Beijing and Washington.
Since the head of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who traveled to China at the same time as Macron, found much more critical words about Beijing, observers described the inconsistent behavior of Europe as harmful in its behavior towards the Chinese government.
Beijing ensnares Scholz and Macron
Representatives of the Chinese government have been trying to influence Berlin and Paris for a long time. Beijing believes France and Germany are leading the way in Europe. Accordingly, the German Chancellor Scholz and Macron in particular are being ensnared.
“During her trip to China, Baerbock has to make it clear that Macron is not speaking for Europe,” says Janka Oertel, director of the Asia program at the European Council on Foreign Relations. But that shouldn’t be difficult for the Foreign Minister, according to Oertel. “She just has to make the clear line that she has represented for a long time clear.”
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In addition to Baerbock, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is visiting Beijing this week. One of the dominant themes in both Lula’s and Baerbock’s talks will be China’s role in the Ukraine war.
Brazil had offered to mediate in the conflict. China recently caused a stir with a position paper that was interpreted as a peace plan for the Ukraine war.
But even if China is neutral, according to observers, it is firmly on Moscow’s side. Washington has repeatedly warned Beijing against supporting Moscow with arms. In early March, Chancellor Scholz said his message to Beijing was clear: “Use your influence in Moscow to push for the withdrawal of Russian troops.”
Taiwan as a new possible conflict
The German economy sees it very similarly. China lost a lot of trust in Germany and Europe with its stance in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, says BDI representative Niedermark. He demands that China must work towards Russia to ensure compliance with the principles of the United Nations and thus the preservation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Observers are also increasingly concerned about China’s behavior in the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese government regards Taiwan as part of its territory, although the country has never been part of the People’s Republic founded in 1949 and has its own democratically elected government and laws.
Just a few days ago, the Chinese military practiced a comprehensive blockade of the island by ships and planes around Taiwan. A spokeswoman for the Federal Foreign Office said on Wednesday that she was “very concerned about the situation in the Taiwan Strait” and explicitly called on China to contribute to peace and stability in the region.
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“Beijing expects a clear commitment to the one-China policy,” says EU chamber chief Wuttke. What is meant by this is that Germany, like other countries, has renounced official diplomatic relations with Taipei in favor of diplomatic relations with Beijing.
“But it’s also important,” emphasized Wuttke, “that Baerbock makes it clear that military exercises like the last few days are irritating. If a crisis were to break out in Taiwan, it would also have a massive impact on the European economy.”
European companies not only depend on the chips made in the country, but also provide the largest investors in Taiwan. In addition, an estimated 40 percent of the goods transported in the EU go through the Taiwan Strait.
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