Berlin is realigning relations with Beijing.
(Photo: dpa)
The Chinese ambassador to Germany is using unusually harsh words to attack the federal government. The diplomat complains that she is taking an ideological approach to her new China strategy and is orienting herself towards the USA. And warns German politicians not to cross any “red lines” with regard to Taiwan.
These are undiplomatic, sharp, even disconcerting statements, but essentially no new narratives that Beijing is spreading through its representative in Berlin. The United States, Australia and other countries that have fallen out of favor with China have long been used to verbal attacks of this kind from Beijing.
>> Read here: China’s ambassador in Berlin: “Cold War mentality”
What is new is that these attacks are now also directed against Germany. This has never existed in this form before in German-Chinese relations. Because Berlin was mostly friendly and accommodating to Beijing during the years under Chancellor Angela Merkel – apart from a few back-room admonitions about human rights – the Chinese government has only found it necessary to confront her with such harshness in exceptional cases. But times have changed.
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Moscow’s brutal attack on a European country made it clear to many that what had long seemed unthinkable can suddenly become reality. And because China is a different country today than it was a few years ago – more aggressive in foreign policy, even more repressive in domestic policy – it is only logical that the German government should take a more determined stance towards Beijing.
In fact, she is still acting comparatively cautiously. Some even see Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the old Merkel tradition when it comes to China. During his trip to China, he did not rave about the great potential of economic relations, as was usual in Merkel’s time, but clearly criticized the Chinese government. But he embarked on the journey despite much criticism. And Scholz also pushed through the controversial Hamburg port deal.
Against this background, it is all the more astonishing that China is acting so aggressively towards the federal government. But the federal government should not allow itself to be intimidated. On the contrary. Germany, the German public and the federal government must get used to the fact that the tone is getting rougher – and counteract it.
Germany needs to prepare for an upcoming difficult time in dealing with China. In concrete terms, this means: abandoning naivety in dealing with Beijing, building up China competence and having a clear picture of what German interests are in dealing with the People’s Republic.
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