https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/518380/feed Breaking news and analysis on China-Germany relations, covering trade, investment and the impact of wider issues such as EU-China relations, people-to-people exchange, human rights, security, and conflicts over alleged unfair competition. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Caroline Lin,Eve Qiao Caroline Lin,Eve Qiao German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has begun his state visit to China in the eastern province of Anhui, spotlighting a growing trend among visiting foreign leaders to look well beyond Beijing. Steinmeier arrived in the provincial capital Hefei early on Tuesday to begin a five-day state visit, marking his first trip to China in nearly eight years and confirming an exclusive report by the South China Morning Post earlier this month. When foreign dignitaries bypass Beijing for provincial... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372340/german-leaders-china-visit-latest-sign-foreign-diplomacy-pivot-beyond-beijing https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372340/german-leaders-china-visit-latest-sign-foreign-diplomacy-pivot-beyond-beijing Tue, 27 Oct 2026 14:17:05 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham,Dewey Sim Finbarr Bermingham,Dewey Sim German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is planning to visit China in the coming weeks, even as relations between the two countries sour over trade, according to multiple sources familiar with the arrangement. It will mark the first official visit to China since 2018 for Steinmeier, a former foreign minister whose decade-long tenure as president ends in March next year. The visit will coincide with Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s trips to Japan and South Korea this month. When asked about the visit... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370140/german-president-steinmeier-targets-china-trip-berlin-sharpens-trade-stance https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370140/german-president-steinmeier-targets-china-trip-berlin-sharpens-trade-stance Thu, 08 Oct 2026 05:06:24 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham,Xiaofei Xu Finbarr Bermingham,Xiaofei Xu In the strongest sign yet of a shifting European Union policy on China, the leaders of France and Germany have demanded a new trade weapon that would cut off access to the EU market when third countries cause severe distortions. The tool would effectively act as a kill switch, allowing Brussels to respond rapidly to systemic distortions, potentially immediately. It would grant dramatic new powers to the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, which manages trade policy for the 27-member... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369828/france-germany-call-new-weapon-allowing-immediate-cut-china-eu-market https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369828/france-germany-call-new-weapon-allowing-immediate-cut-china-eu-market Mon, 05 Oct 2026 14:08:31 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged Germany to help steer the European Union away from protectionist measures against China, saying that Beijing and Brussels should not engage in trade wars just days before President Xi Jinping’s high-stakes US visit. “China and the EU are comprehensive strategic partners, and a trade war should not be fought between them,” Wang told his German counterpart Johann Wadephul in a phone call on Monday. According to a statement from China’s foreign ministry,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368365/china-seeks-german-help-stave-eu-trade-sanctions-days-xi-trump-summit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368365/china-seeks-german-help-stave-eu-trade-sanctions-days-xi-trump-summit Tue, 22 Sep 2026 08:02:30 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Chinese AI researcher “Joy” waited more than seven months to hear that his visa application for Germany had been rejected. The 30-year-old had been offered a postdoctoral position at a German technical university but the rejection letter said there was an Ausweisungsinteresse, or public interest in denying him entry. Citing Section 53 of Germany’s Residence Act, the letter said that for applications involving “study, research and similar employment”, particular attention had to be paid to the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368056/are-doors-german-universities-closing-chinas-stem-researchers https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368056/are-doors-german-universities-closing-chinas-stem-researchers Fri, 18 Sep 2026 14:00:05 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan With its sweeping victory in a key state election, the far-right Alternative for Germany is putting pressure on the ruling federal coalition and could nudge Berlin towards a more pragmatic approach to China, analysts said. By securing 43.8 per cent of the vote in the September 6 election in Saxony-Anhalt – more than double its 2021 result – the AfD sent shock waves and piled further pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party. In the state it has... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367059/far-right-afd-party-won-big-saxony-anhalt-will-it-change-germanys-approach-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367059/far-right-afd-party-won-big-saxony-anhalt-will-it-change-germanys-approach-china Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:58:07 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu While German companies operating in China increasingly view the global expansion of local firms as a chance to collaborate, the window of opportunity is narrowing as Chinese firms rapidly develop the expertise needed to expand overseas on their own, according to a new report. The internalisation of Chinese companies has emerged as the most frequently cited business opportunity for German firms in China, selected by 36 per cent of survey respondents and up from 20 per cent in 2022, according to a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3367032/chinas-global-expansion-offers-german-firms-opportunity-they-see-window-narrowing https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3367032/chinas-global-expansion-offers-german-firms-opportunity-they-see-window-narrowing Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:00:07 +0000 Huizhao Huang Huizhao Huang The landslide victory of a far-right party in a German state election has raised doubts about whether a politically weakened Berlin can remain a driving force behind the European Union’s increasingly tough approach to Beijing amid mounting trade tensions. During the weekend election in the country’s eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) took 43.8 per cent of the vote, according to preliminary results, achieving its best state-level result but falling... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3366951/far-right-election-win-germany-adds-uncertainty-shaky-china-eu-relations https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3366951/far-right-election-win-germany-adds-uncertainty-shaky-china-eu-relations Wed, 09 Sep 2026 14:30:06 +0000 Huizhao Huang,Xiaofei Xu Huizhao Huang,Xiaofei Xu More than half of German companies said the European Union should take stronger trade measures against China even if their own businesses would suffer higher prices, tariffs or retaliation, according to a survey of about 1,300 German firms published by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) on Thursday. That tougher stance comes despite many German companies acknowledging their reliance on Chinese supply chains and production sites for their own competitiveness. Among companies with... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3366365/german-firms-back-tougher-eu-trade-measures-china-despite-business-risks https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3366365/german-firms-back-tougher-eu-trade-measures-china-despite-business-risks Fri, 04 Sep 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Huizhao Huang Huizhao Huang Germany’s automotive industry shed 42,300 jobs in the year to the end of June, sending employment to its lowest level since 2005 as carmakers grappled with falling profits in China and mounting competition from Chinese brands in Europe, and industry groups warned that worse was yet to come. With job losses spreading across German industries, the automotive sector was hit the hardest, recording a 5.8 per cent decline in employment, according to data published by the country’s Federal Statistical... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3364281/job-losses-mount-german-automotive-sector-challenge-china-intensifies https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3364281/job-losses-mount-german-automotive-sector-challenge-china-intensifies Mon, 17 Aug 2026 08:34:04 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham Germans have emerged as some of Europe’s most hawkish voters on China, more likely to consider Beijing as a rival or an adversary than in any other major EU country, a new survey has shown. Published amid a bout of soul-searching in Berlin over whether to back a tougher approach towards China on trade, the findings suggest that the country’s citizens might not be opposed to such a shift. A combined 49 per cent of German people polled considered China to be primarily a rival or an adversary, way... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363227/germans-emerge-europes-biggest-china-hawks-economic-pain-begins-bite https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363227/germans-emerge-europes-biggest-china-hawks-economic-pain-begins-bite Fri, 07 Aug 2026 02:00:21 +0000 Huizhao Huang Huizhao Huang Germany’s drive to compete with Chinese imports is colliding with its long-standing tradition of Sunday rest, with policymakers and retailers now asking whether a century-old consensus still fits an economy struggling to regain its competitiveness. The latest flashpoint came in early July, when the country’s coalition government unveiled a package of measures to boost Germany’s competitiveness, including plans to let bakeries, confectioneries and public libraries operate longer on Sundays from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3361994/germanys-drive-compete-china-collides-long-standing-tradition-sunday-rest https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3361994/germanys-drive-compete-china-collides-long-standing-tradition-sunday-rest Mon, 27 Jul 2026 10:30:06 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen Minutes after a Berlin court sentenced a Chinese man to five years in prison for aiding and abetting aggravated rape and sexual coercion, two women who had sat through the trial hugged each other and cried. But the case left one of those women, named Kristina, balancing mixed emotions as she struggled to reconcile her desire to see the perpetrators punished and questions about what justice really meant in a case of this nature. The 32-year-old accused, who was studying medicine, was jailed for... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3361892/were-german-courts-too-soft-chinese-members-drug-rape-network https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3361892/were-german-courts-too-soft-chinese-members-drug-rape-network Sun, 26 Jul 2026 10:00:16 +0000 Haining Gao Haining Gao – https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/economy/global-economy/article/3360744/eus-trade-panic-over-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/economy/global-economy/article/3360744/eus-trade-panic-over-china Thu, 16 Jul 2026 04:26:36 +0000 Huizhao Huang Huizhao Huang Germany’s ruling coalition has pledged to take a tougher line on defending trade at the continental level, signalling a potential shift by a country long seen as the European Union’s main brake on stronger action against China. The pledge formed part of a 34-point package to revive Germany’s ailing economy that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition agreed to on Thursday. While the document did not mention China, German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said the government was adopting a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3359262/german-government-pledges-defend-trade-signalling-tougher-china-stance https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3359262/german-government-pledges-defend-trade-signalling-tougher-china-stance Fri, 03 Jul 2026 07:01:45 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com’s €2.2 billion (US$2.5 billion) bid to acquire Europe’s largest electronics retailer Ceconomy has received the green light from German authorities as China and the European Union engage in high-stakes trade talks. Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy approved the deal after a review of its potential impact on the country’s public order and security, subject to conditions that the Chinese tech giant would ensure the personal data of Ceconomy’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/policy/article/3358902/jdcoms-bid-europes-ceconomy-clears-german-hurdle-eu-subsidy-probe-looms https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/policy/article/3358902/jdcoms-bid-europes-ceconomy-clears-german-hurdle-eu-subsidy-probe-looms Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:41:10 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signalled a major shift in Berlin’s economic relations with Beijing on Friday, saying the Chinese currency was undervalued by 30 per cent, well above the International Monetary Fund’s estimate of “about 16 per cent”. Speaking in Brussels after a European Council summit, Merz said China was “flooding markets” through the use of “high subsidies”, adding that “subsidising overcapacities” along with a “currency that isn’t convertible freely … is not... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3357742/germany-hews-eus-tough-china-line-call-plaza-accord-talks-yuan https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3357742/germany-hews-eus-tough-china-line-call-plaza-accord-talks-yuan Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:32:20 +0000 Huizhao Huang Huizhao Huang One out of every seven plug-in hybrid vehicles registered in Germany in May came from BYD, as the Chinese carmaker’s registrations surged 232 per cent in Europe’s largest auto market from a year earlier. With 6,169 vehicles registered there in May, BYD held a 2.6 per cent share of Germany’s new-car registrations, according to data from the country’s Federal Motor Transport Authority. Of those, 4,290 were plug-in hybrids, led by the Atto 2 DM-i with 2,113 registrations – the top-selling plug-in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3356760/chinas-byd-claims-germanys-plug-hybrid-crown-disrupting-market-iconic-auto-giants https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3356760/chinas-byd-claims-germanys-plug-hybrid-crown-disrupting-market-iconic-auto-giants Thu, 11 Jun 2026 13:30:05 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China overtook the US to become Germany’s top single-country source of foreign direct investment (FDI) last year, a German government report said. There were 228 greenfield and expansion projects from Chinese companies recorded in Germany last year, compared with 206 from the United States, Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI), the government’s economic development and foreign trade agency, said in its annual report, which was published on Thursday. The country’s top five foreign investment sources... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3354505/its-firms-look-overseas-china-overtakes-us-become-top-foreign-investor-germany https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3354505/its-firms-look-overseas-china-overtakes-us-become-top-foreign-investor-germany Fri, 22 May 2026 08:02:50 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham Germany has been warned that a “China shock” to its trade economy is the biggest driver of its industrial slump, in a new report that urges Berlin to throw its weight behind stronger EU measures against Beijing. Much soul-searching has been under way in Berlin over recent years, with the German government focusing on deregulation in an effort to kick-start a sputtering economy. According to the report from influential think tank the Centre for European Reform, the “China shock is now the most... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3354265/phantom-limb-report-blames-china-shock-germanys-industrial-malaise https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3354265/phantom-limb-report-blames-china-shock-germanys-industrial-malaise Wed, 20 May 2026 12:00:15 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signalled support for a European Union-China trade deal, as rising tensions with the United States complicate Europe’s response to a growing flood of low-cost Chinese imports. Merz told German lawmakers on Wednesday he could envisage an agreement with China in “the longer term” among other trade accords. “We now need strategic partnerships around the world in order to strengthen ourselves, especially our exports,” he said. The comments highlight an emerging split... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348115/merz-floats-eu-china-deal-trumps-new-beijing-date-european-lawmakers-visit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348115/merz-floats-eu-china-deal-trumps-new-beijing-date-european-lawmakers-visit Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:01:16 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he can imagine a trade deal with China in the future, signalling a new softening stance towards Beijing in European capitals. “We have set quite a lot in motion when it comes to trade policy. I can also envisage further agreements, for example, in the longer term an agreement with the People’s Republic of China,” Merz said in the German parliament on Wednesday. Merz’s remarks underscore how surging trade and geopolitical tensions with Washington are... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348030/germanys-merz-floats-eu-china-trade-deal-capitals-soften-beijing https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348030/germanys-merz-floats-eu-china-trade-deal-capitals-soften-beijing Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:00:51 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Baden-Wurttemberg stands on the front line of Germany’s “China shock 2.0”. A hub for carmakers including Mercedes-Benz, the region has faced a wave of job cuts over the past year as Chinese firms rapidly gain global market share. In the German media, some have warned the area risks becoming “Germany’s Detroit”. Yet despite the economic strain – and polls showing the economy was the top issue for local voters – China barely featured in campaigns during the run-up to Baden-Wurttemberg’s state... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3346105/why-china-threat-was-barely-mentioned-germanys-latest-state-election https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3346105/why-china-threat-was-barely-mentioned-germanys-latest-state-election Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:30:07 +0000 Shen Wei Shen Wei When German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Beijing for his first visit to China last week, it came at a moment of heightened geopolitical attention. With US President Donald Trump expected to visit Beijing in late March or early April, European leaders are watching closely for possible shifts in transatlantic relations and trade policy. Against this anxious backdrop, Merz’s meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing offered something the global stage has been deeply... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3345145/merzs-china-visit-shows-pragmatic-diplomacy-still-matters https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3345145/merzs-china-visit-shows-pragmatic-diplomacy-still-matters Wed, 04 Mar 2026 21:30:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial President Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who made his first visit to China since taking office, have pledged to boost ties as they rebalance relations amid global uncertainties. The diplomatic language reflects some compelling pragmatic considerations. As the most important industrial and economic power in Europe, Germany’s stance will help shape China’s relationship with the European Union. Merz’s visit shows that despite trade tensions Germany realises it needs to work... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3344750/merzs-beijing-trip-shows-germany-realises-it-needs-work-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3344750/merzs-beijing-trip-shows-germany-realises-it-needs-work-china Thu, 26 Feb 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has concluded his first visit to China, hailing the “good cooperation” with Beijing as Berlin seeks to rebalance ties with its biggest trading partner amid the unpredictability of the Trump administration. Merz characterised the visit as “worthwhile”, noting that China would buy up to 120 additional aircraft from Airbus SE. The company operates two assembly lines in the northern port city of Tianjin that mainly produce A320 jets for Chinese carriers. In his... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344777/merz-leaves-china-bargaining-chips-looming-trump-trade-battle https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344777/merz-leaves-china-bargaining-chips-looming-trump-trade-battle Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:25:08 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma German Chancellor Friedrich Merz voiced concerns about Chinese industrial overcapacity after meeting President Xi Jinping, as he seeks to rein in a trade deficit that has grown fourfold since 2020. “This dynamic is not healthy,” Merz told reporters in Beijing on Wednesday, according to Reuters. He also highlighted “risks” from the close connections between the two countries, including problems suffered by German manufacturers last year when China tightened export controls on basic computer chips... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344730/china-shock-hits-germany-merz-joins-beijing-pilgrimage https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344730/china-shock-hits-germany-merz-joins-beijing-pilgrimage Thu, 26 Feb 2026 09:07:31 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham German Chancellor Friedrich Merz travelled to Beijing with a delicate brief: vouch for a shrinking slice of big German firms still bullish on China, while defending the growing number being squeezed. On day one of his first official visit, Merz trod the line carefully – voicing openness to resetting beleaguered bilateral ties, even while gently nudging his hosts on bugbears including subsidies, currency devaluation and Russia. A day of meetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, President Xi Jinping... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344661/merzs-china-tightrope-warm-words-hard-questions-beijing https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344661/merzs-china-tightrope-warm-words-hard-questions-beijing Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:00:15 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan China and Germany have pledged to elevate ties as they seek to rebalance relations amid global uncertainties. Chinese President Xi Jinping told visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Beijing on Wednesday that he was “willing to work together with the chancellor to continuously advance the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Germany to new levels”. Merz echoed Xi’s call to strengthen bilateral relations, according to state broadcaster CCTV. “The more turbulent and complex... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344618/meeting-merz-xi-urges-efforts-advance-china-germany-ties-new-levels https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344618/meeting-merz-xi-urges-efforts-advance-china-germany-ties-new-levels Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:34:57 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham At a time when German industry is frequently slammed for being too slow and reluctant to change, there is one area in which industrialists have noticed rapid evolution. “The speed at which our position towards China has changed and at which our members are changing their minds on China – it’s China speed,” said Oliver Richtberg, head of the foreign trade department at Germany’s Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA). Richtberg’s group represents more than 3,000 of Germany’s “hidden... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344366/china-shock-hangs-over-german-leader-friedrich-merzs-first-visit-beijing https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344366/china-shock-hangs-over-german-leader-friedrich-merzs-first-visit-beijing Mon, 23 Feb 2026 15:00:12 +0000 Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who heads to Beijing this week, had warned last year in relation to China that economic dependencies make Germany “susceptible to blackmail”. As chancellor, he confronts an export model under strain, a deteriorating transatlantic environment and the fiscal reality that moral posturing does not sustain an industrial economy. Merz has never been shy about stating where he stands. As chairman of the non-profit Atlantik-Brucke from 2009 to 2019, he boosted the view... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3344239/germanys-outreach-china-signals-reckoning-rather-shift https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3344239/germanys-outreach-china-signals-reckoning-rather-shift Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:07:33 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan,Agence France-Presse Cao Jiaxuan,Agence France-Presse German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit China from Wednesday, shortly after the Lunar New Year holiday, according to the chancellor’s spokesman. “This date was proposed by the Chinese side,” spokesman Sebastian Hille said on Friday. “We consider this offer to come right at the beginning of the year to be a good omen.” Merz will leave Berlin on Tuesday for his first official China visit since he took office in May. He is expected to be welcomed in Beijing on Wednesday by Premier Li Qiang... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344174/germanys-merz-latest-european-leader-visit-china-amid-tensions-us https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344174/germanys-merz-latest-european-leader-visit-china-amid-tensions-us Fri, 20 Feb 2026 13:25:32 +0000 Claudia Hinterseer Claudia Hinterseer As German Chancellor Friedrich Merz prepares for his high-stakes visit to Beijing from February 24 to February 27, he faces a new reality – China has become less reliant on Germany. While China is once again Germany’s top trading partner, the relationship has become distorted by a record €89 billion (US$105.6 billion) trade deficit. China’s economic slowdown has cut demand for German exports while the German appetite for Chinese goods grows. SCMP Plus subscribers enjoy early access to selected... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344105/china-germany-ties-ahead-merzs-visit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344105/china-germany-ties-ahead-merzs-visit Fri, 20 Feb 2026 07:30:34 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings German companies are turning towards investments in China as they lose confidence in the United States over President Donald Trump’s policies, but they still see obstacles in the world’s second-largest economy, according to an executive at a German chamber of commerce. That landscape would form the backdrop of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s planned visit to China later this month, said Oliver Oehms, executive director and board member of the German Chamber of Commerce in North China. Merz... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3342667/stung-trumps-policies-german-multinationals-cautiously-pivot-towards-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3342667/stung-trumps-policies-german-multinationals-cautiously-pivot-towards-china Fri, 06 Feb 2026 09:22:18 +0000 David Dodwell David Dodwell In Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, Mike Campbell described how he went bankrupt: “Gradually, and then suddenly.” Over the past weeks, there is a feeling that US President Donald Trump and his administration have reached the “suddenly” bit. First, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney captivated a World Economic Forum audience when he described the “rupture” in the rules-based order, a “bargain” that “no longer works”: leaving middle countries like Canada with no choice but to dilute their... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3341726/gradually-then-suddenly-world-waking-us-threat https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3341726/gradually-then-suddenly-world-waking-us-threat Fri, 30 Jan 2026 08:30:14 +0000 Sylvie Zhuang Sylvie Zhuang Donald Trump’s renewed threats to take over Greenland could pose a direct challenge to China’s ambitions in the Arctic, but some observers say it may also open the door to increased cooperation with Europe. Following the abduction of Venezuela’s former leader Nicolas Maduro, the White House swiftly turned its attention towards the self-governing Danish territory, adding that “of course, utilising the US military is always an option at the commander-in-chief’s disposal”. On Sunday, the US... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339078/will-donald-trumps-threats-greenland-help-bring-china-and-europe-closer-together https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339078/will-donald-trumps-threats-greenland-help-bring-china-and-europe-closer-together Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:00:15 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial As two of the world’s economic powerhouses, Germany and China have much to offer each other. Alas, relations have significantly worsened since the end of the Angela Merkel era. As a key part of the European Union and the US-led Western alliance system, Berlin has taken a hardline stance towards Beijing in recent years. It has been a difficult relationship for China to manage as Germany swings from political hostility to economic pragmatism. The latest visit by German Foreign Minister Johann... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3335845/time-germany-see-reason-and-improve-relations-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3335845/time-germany-see-reason-and-improve-relations-china Wed, 10 Dec 2025 23:15:07 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has warned that Europe must be “extremely cautious” about slapping tariffs on China, as it could prompt Beijing to take countermeasures that could turn into a “spiral”. The remarks came after French President Emmanuel Macron said he had told Beijing during his visit to China last week that Europe would be forced to take “strong measures” against Chinese goods if the trade imbalance was not addressed. “I told them that if they do not react, we Europeans... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335679/hitting-china-tariffs-should-be-last-resort-german-foreign-minister-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335679/hitting-china-tariffs-should-be-last-resort-german-foreign-minister-says Tue, 09 Dec 2025 02:43:59 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Beijing pressed German carmakers to help resolve disputes over the European Union’s anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and the Nexperia semiconductor saga, in separate video meetings on Monday. Vice-Minister of Commerce Ling Ji made the appeal to German industry leaders, seeking to leverage their influence in Brussels. Ling spoke with Hildegard Mueller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), and Ola Kallenius, president of the European Automobile... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3335644/china-leans-german-carmakers-help-break-brussels-tariff-deadlock-fix-nexperia-mess https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3335644/china-leans-german-carmakers-help-break-brussels-tariff-deadlock-fix-nexperia-mess Mon, 08 Dec 2025 12:58:33 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen China’s deliveries of rare earths, semiconductors and other commodities to Germany dominated the talks between German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on Monday. “In all of these areas, there has been uncertainty, and that needs to be eliminated,” Wadephul said as he began a trip to China aimed at addressing Berlin’s trade and geopolitical concerns. According to Reuters, Beijing was far from being persuaded to grant general export licences for rare earth... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335643/german-foreign-minister-calls-end-uncertainty-chinese-rare-earths-chips https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335643/german-foreign-minister-calls-end-uncertainty-chinese-rare-earths-chips Mon, 08 Dec 2025 12:50:36 +0000 Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa Few leaders travel to China seeking gravitas and return with only a couple of pandas, but French President Emmanuel Macron managed to do just that. After surrendering sovereignty to US President Donald Trump, Macron visited China seeking a validation that his citizens no longer grant. His authority at home has been eroded through cabinet implosions, collapsing support, stalled budgets and demands for his resignation. China could see that before he even stepped off the plane. Beijing handled a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3335556/macrons-trip-exposes-europes-fractured-china-policy https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3335556/macrons-trip-exposes-europes-fractured-china-policy Mon, 08 Dec 2025 12:30:08 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Emmanuel Macron has warned Beijing that Europe would be forced to retaliate with “strong measures” against Chinese goods – including punitive tariffs modelled after US policy – if a trade imbalance between the two sides remains unaddressed well into 2026. Back in Paris, fresh from a diplomatic visit to China that ended on Friday, the French president told business newspaper Les Echos that China was “effectively killing their own customers” by running unsustainable surpluses while curbing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3335620/macrons-trade-ultimatum-china-goes-private-public-fix-surplus-or-face-tariffs https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3335620/macrons-trade-ultimatum-china-goes-private-public-fix-surplus-or-face-tariffs Mon, 08 Dec 2025 10:00:33 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul’s trip to China this week signals a mutual desire to resume high-level dialogue amid mounting economic and geopolitical tensions, according to analysts. But they cautioned that the visit, which could lay the groundwork for a trip by Chancellor Friedrich Merz early next year, should be viewed as pragmatic management of a complex “systemic rivalry”, rather than a major reset in Beijing’s relations with Berlin or Brussels. For Germany, securing access to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335502/why-top-german-diplomats-china-trip-aims-manage-rivalry-wont-reset-ties https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335502/why-top-german-diplomats-china-trip-aims-manage-rivalry-wont-reset-ties Sun, 07 Dec 2025 10:00:35 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham It is not unusual for Berlin to be cloaked in a blanket of grey on the brink of winter. What hangs over the city this year, however, feels heavier. This new shade of gloom cuts through conversations about everything. Germany’s coalition government is just six months old, but already some are wondering how long it can last. The economy is no larger now than it was five years ago and is being pummelled by a heady brew of structural problems and external threats. The German foreign minister warned... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335453/great-slowdown-germany-standstill-china-shock-hits https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335453/great-slowdown-germany-standstill-china-shock-hits Sat, 06 Dec 2025 14:00:10 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu German companies are accelerating efforts to partner with Chinese rivals, conceding in fresh survey results that the local competitors appear poised to seize the lead in global innovation. While business sentiment among surveyed German firms in China has seen a slight uptick, optimism has been tempered by fierce price competition and a nationalist “Buy China” push, according to findings from the German Chamber of Commerce’s 2025/26 Business Confidence Survey. About 56 per cent of surveyed firms... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3334907/buy-china-trend-price-wars-push-german-industry-localise-seeing-rivals-leaders https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3334907/buy-china-trend-price-wars-push-german-industry-localise-seeing-rivals-leaders Tue, 02 Dec 2025 09:00:24 +0000 Thomas O. Falk Thomas O. Falk There are moments in statecraft when a government reveals its strategic character. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s new administration has shown one such moment – and it was encouraging. On Ukraine, Berlin has moved with a decisiveness long thought beyond its political metabolism. Weapons are flowing. Defence production is expanding. Germany is anchoring Nato’s eastern flank and, for the first time in decades, speaking like a country prepared to bear the burdens of European security. On China,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3333715/stumbling-germany-needs-clear-strategy-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3333715/stumbling-germany-needs-clear-strategy-china Tue, 25 Nov 2025 12:30:09 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has revealed he is now in the “last stages of coordinating” a trip to China, after his planned visit to Beijing last month was hastily cancelled. Speaking at the Berlin Foreign Policy Forum on Tuesday, Wadephul said he was “confident” that the trip would be rescheduled soon. It is thought that the conservative minister would be in the Chinese capital in the second week of December. Wadephul postponed his planned trip in October after failing to arrange... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334118/german-foreign-minister-last-stages-coordinating-trip-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334118/german-foreign-minister-last-stages-coordinating-trip-china Tue, 25 Nov 2025 11:00:49 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen Chinese Premier Li Qiang urged Germany to stand by a rational and pragmatic China policy and focus on common interests as he met on Sunday with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. “We hope the German side will adhere to a rational and pragmatic China policy, rule out interference and pressure, focus on shared interests and consolidate the foundation for cooperation,” Li told Merz on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. The meeting with the chancellor, who is... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333905/premier-li-qiang-urges-germany-be-rational-and-pragmatic-china-policy https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333905/premier-li-qiang-urges-germany-be-rational-and-pragmatic-china-policy Mon, 24 Nov 2025 06:04:56 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that Europe does not want to be a “vassal” that is dependent on US and Chinese tech companies, calling for a “European preference” in the sector. “Europe doesn’t want to be the client of the big entrepreneurs or the big solutions being provided either from the US or from China, we clearly want to design our own solutions,” Macron told a Berlin summit, adding that this stance represented “a refusal of being a vassal”. Macron was speaking at the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3333316/europe-refuses-be-tech-vassal-china-and-us-frances-macron-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3333316/europe-refuses-be-tech-vassal-china-and-us-frances-macron-says Tue, 18 Nov 2025 17:40:47 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma China will take European concerns about rare earth export controls “seriously”, German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said after becoming the first member of his country’s coalition government to visit the Asian nation. “I made it clear that we need reliability and stability for German and European companies, and that the unjustified application of export controls poses a serious threat to the global economy,” Klingbeil told reporters after meeting Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng in Beijing.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/article/3333254/germany-courts-china-rare-earths-stoke-economic-woes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/article/3333254/germany-courts-china-rare-earths-stoke-economic-woes Tue, 18 Nov 2025 09:21:56 +0000