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Where to now for Germany’s ties with China? Start with long-term vision, academic says
Berlin’s foreign policy is bogged down by specifics and lacks vision, observer says
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Germany needs to think long term and come up with a strategic vision to revive mutual trust with China following a series of diplomatic “bumps” this year, according to international relations observers.
The relationship faced a setback last month when German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul postponed his first trip to China. A German foreign ministry official said the visit was called off after Beijing confirmed only one of his requested meetings.
Cui Hongjian, director of the European studies centre at Beijing Foreign Studies University, said new German governments often experienced initial “bumps” with China, but Beijing had shown less patience this time due to Wadephul’s previous remarks on sensitive issues such as Taiwan.
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“Beijing sees it as irresponsible to make preconceived judgments and statements without having first conducted a formal visit to China or engaged in official discussions with Chinese counterparts,” Cui said.
Wadephul has repeatedly criticised China’s actions in the Taiwan Strait and the East and South China seas.
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During a trip to Tokyo in August, he accused Beijing of “increasingly aggressive” behaviour in the region. In October, he reaffirmed that Germany’s one-China policy remained unchanged, but stated there must be “no violent change of the status quo”, according to Reuters. Both remarks draw rebukes from Beijing.
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