TOPIC

/ people

Johann Wadephul

The latest news and updates on Johann Wadephul, Germany’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, having assumed the position in May 2025. A Member of the Bundestag since 2009, he previously served as Deputy Chair of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, with significant responsibilities in foreign and security policy. A lawyer and reserve Lieutenant Colonel, Wadephul is a defence policy expert known for advocating robust German military support for Ukraine and deeper NATO integration. His expertise encompasses transatlantic relations, China, Russia, the Balkans, and the Middle East. He was also elected Vice-President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in November 2024.

European Union efforts to reduce the concentration of Chinese suppliers have led to tensions between Brussels and Beijing. Photo: AFP

China-EU relations

Have trade tensions scuppered EU-China talks ahead of tough Brussels decisions?

June 23 meeting in Beijing postponed without warning as bilateral ties deteriorate on a near-daily basis.

11 Jun 2026 - 5:39PMvideocam

Ukraine war

Russia and Ukraine trade attacks ahead of Moscow war parade

8 May 2026 - 4:26PM

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump may cut US troops in Germany after ‘humiliating’ Iran comment

30 Apr 2026 - 7:46AM

China-EU relations

China, Europe and why Beijing took a swing at Iran over the Strait of Hormuz

Beijing takes a stand at the United Nations at the closure of shipping lanes.

3 Apr 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

About a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies usually pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Photo: Getty Images/TNS

Munich Security Conference

As transatlantic divorce plays out in Munich, China enjoys the silence

For long, China was a magnet for America’s rhetorical aggression. Now, it is the Europeans who are under fire.

15 Feb 2026 - 9:30PMvideocam

Israel-Gaza war

World artists back Palestine rapporteur Francesca Albanese despite criticism

Albanese faces calls from France and Germany to step down over remarks in which she criticised ‘most of the world’ for enabling Israel’s ‘genocide’ in Gaza.

14 Feb 2026 - 11:17PM

China-EU relations

Farewell to the ‘unipolar moment’: Europe scrambles for footing between US and China

French and German foreign ministers revive talks with Beijing counterpart to respond to US-China divide-and-rule tactics and bolster European unity.

14 Feb 2026 - 7:50PMvideocam

Meeting in Munich on Friday are (from left) China’s Wang Yi, Germany’s Johann Wadephul and France’s Jean-Noel Barrot. Photo: DPA

Greenland

Britain in talks with Nato allies over Arctic security as US eyes Greenland

UK minister says talks on the Arctic ‘business as usual’, while Trump posits having Greenland ‘one way or the other’.

12 Jan 2026 - 3:06PM

Donald Trump

Trump plots to buy Greenland, as Nato ally Denmark seethes

The US president has repeatedly refused to rule out using force to seize the Arctic island, but his team says the first option is diplomacy.

8 Jan 2026 - 5:20AMvideocam

US-China relations

Editorial | Less hostility towards China in new US security strategy is welcome

The plan’s watering down of America’s antagonism towards China bodes well for both nations and the world.

21 Dec 2025 - 6:45AM

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks as President Donald Trump listens at a meeting in the White House in Washington on December 2. Photo: CNP/Abaca Press/TNS

Australia

World leaders express horror at Bondi Beach attack as vigils held for victims

Israel’s Herzog condemned the ‘cruel attack on Jews’ by ‘terrorists’; Trump branded the shooting that killed 15 people ‘purely antisemitic’.

15 Dec 2025 - 6:28AM

People hold a vigil outside the Australian High Commission in central London, Britain on Sunday following a terrorist attack on a Jewish celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Photo: PA Wire / dpa

United States

Outside In | It’s an expensive Christmas for Americans thanks to Trump’s tariffs

It’s been years since the US president extolled the virtues of trade wars: how much longer before he recognises tariffs harm the US economy?

12 Dec 2025 - 5:08PMvideocam

China-EU relations

Brussels ramps up China de-risking while France and Germany pull further apart

Raids, probes and new screening rules collide with widening splits between Paris and Berlin over how tough to be on Beijing.

12 Dec 2025 - 3:03AMvideocam

China-Germany relations

Editorial | Time for Germany to see reason and improve relations with China

With Trump and his frequently anti-European rhetoric, Berlin should see the writing on the wall and move away from its hardline stance.

11 Dec 2025 - 7:15AM

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, left, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi greet each other before their talks in Beijing on December 8. Photo: dpa

China-Germany relations

Hitting China with tariffs should be ‘last resort’, German foreign minister says

During two-day visit to the Chinese capital, Johann Wadephul also calls for Beijing to recognise Europe’s concerns and ‘take action’.

9 Dec 2025 - 2:08PM

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told reporters that Europe must be “extremely cautious” about imposing duties on China. Photo: Reuters

China-EU relations

China leans on German carmakers to help break Brussels tariff deadlock

Commerce vice-minister urges German industry leaders to leverage their clout to push the European Commission towards a compromise on the anti-subsidy probe.

8 Dec 2025 - 8:58PM

China-Germany relations

German foreign minister calls for end to ‘uncertainty’ on Chinese rare earths, chips

Critical minerals, semiconductors and other commodities dominate talks as Johann Wadephul begins trip to China aimed at addressing trade.

8 Dec 2025 - 9:38PM

China-Germany relations

Why top German diplomat’s China trip aims to manage rivalry but won’t reset ties

Critical minerals and Ukraine war expected to be top priorities as Germany’s foreign minister travels to China.

7 Dec 2025 - 11:14PM

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is a prominent advocate for a firmer line towards Beijing. Photo: Reuters

China-Germany relations

The great slowdown: Germany at a standstill as ‘China shock’ hits

As Europe’s biggest economy is pummelled by structural problems and external threats, rocky China ties are compounding the dreary picture.

6 Dec 2025 - 10:00PMvideocam

China-Japan relations

Beijing rebuffs Takaichi, Macron-Xi talks, key economic meeting

This week: China rejects Takaichi’s Taiwan climbdown, Macron visits Xi in Beijing, US deepens Taiwan ties, PBOC slams stablecoins. Next week: economic planning meeting, November trade and inflation data, Hong Kong Legco elections and more.

5 Dec 2025 - 5:12PM

European Union

Opinion | Stumbling Germany needs a clear strategy on China

Berlin must ditch the fantasy that it can profit without strategic risks, stop acting like a junior partner and decide what it stands for.

25 Nov 2025 - 8:30PMvideocam

Friedrich Merz attends a federal executive committee meeting for the first time as German chancellor, at the Konrad-Adenauer-Haus in Berlin, on May 19. Photo: EPA-EFE

China-EU relations

German foreign minister in ‘last stages of coordinating’ trip to China

Johann Wadephul also states he backs a speedier form of de-risking and diversifying away from Beijing’s stronghold on critical minerals.

25 Nov 2025 - 7:18PMvideocam

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is “confident” of rescheduled trip soon, after October visit was hastily cancelled. Photo: AFP

Ukraine war

‘Issues remain’: US-Ukraine talks advance, but Europe cautious on Russia deal

Trump hails ‘big progress’ in talks, while Germany confirms US plan was modified with Nato and territorial demands removed.

25 Nov 2025 - 1:03AM

China-Germany relations

Premier Li Qiang urges Germany to be ‘rational and pragmatic’ on China policy

Meeting between Li and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on G20 sidelines marks a step towards mending ties.

24 Nov 2025 - 4:46PMvideocam

Germany

Outcry forces cancellation of Holocaust artefacts auction in Germany

The controversial sale, titled ‘The System of Terror’, was cancelled after high-level Polish intervention and outcry from Holocaust survivors.

17 Nov 2025 - 11:07AM

The star of David at the Jewish memorial at the Dachau concentration camp memorial site, where more than 43,000 people were murdered and over 200,000 were imprisoned during the Nazi terror reign. Photo: AP

Israel-Gaza war

Gaza risks permanent partition between Israel and Hamas as Trump plan falters

Gaza reconstruction may be limited to Israeli-controlled areas, risking long-term division and placing Palestinian sovereignty in limbo.

11 Nov 2025 - 7:44PMvideocam

A Palestinian man uses blocks from destroyed buildings to rebuild a shelter in the Al-Shatee refugee camp on November 8. Photo: AFP

China-Germany relations

Germany must work with China to build trust after relations turned frosty: expert

Berlin’s foreign policy is bogged down by specifics and lacks vision, observer says.

9 Nov 2025 - 6:00PMvideocam

China-EU relations

Beijing protests after Taiwan’s No 2 leader makes speech at European Parliament

Second-in-command Hsiao Bi-khim addresses unofficial conference of lawmakers, prompting ‘indignation’ from Beijing.

8 Nov 2025 - 2:06PMvideocam

100

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW

Johann Wadephul

Have trade tensions scuppered EU-China talks ahead of tough Brussels decisions?

June 23 meeting in Beijing postponed without warning as bilateral ties deteriorate on a near-daily basis.

Russia and Ukraine trade attacks ahead of Moscow war parade

Trump may cut US troops in Germany after ‘humiliating’ Iran comment

China, Europe and why Beijing took a swing at Iran over the Strait of Hormuz

Beijing takes a stand at the United Nations at the closure of shipping lanes.

As transatlantic divorce plays out in Munich, China enjoys the silence

For long, China was a magnet for America’s rhetorical aggression. Now, it is the Europeans who are under fire.

World artists back Palestine rapporteur Francesca Albanese despite criticism

Albanese faces calls from France and Germany to step down over remarks in which she criticised ‘most of the world’ for enabling Israel’s ‘genocide’ in Gaza.

Farewell to the ‘unipolar moment’: Europe scrambles for footing between US and China

French and German foreign ministers revive talks with Beijing counterpart to respond to US-China divide-and-rule tactics and bolster European unity.

Britain in talks with Nato allies over Arctic security as US eyes Greenland

UK minister says talks on the Arctic ‘business as usual’, while Trump posits having Greenland ‘one way or the other’.

Trump plots to buy Greenland, as Nato ally Denmark seethes

The US president has repeatedly refused to rule out using force to seize the Arctic island, but his team says the first option is diplomacy.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Editorial | Less hostility towards China in new US security strategy is welcome

The plan’s watering down of America’s antagonism towards China bodes well for both nations and the world.

World leaders express horror at Bondi Beach attack as vigils held for victims

Israel’s Herzog condemned the ‘cruel attack on Jews’ by ‘terrorists’; Trump branded the shooting that killed 15 people ‘purely antisemitic’.

Outside In | It’s an expensive Christmas for Americans thanks to Trump’s tariffs

It’s been years since the US president extolled the virtues of trade wars: how much longer before he recognises tariffs harm the US economy?

Brussels ramps up China de-risking while France and Germany pull further apart

Raids, probes and new screening rules collide with widening splits between Paris and Berlin over how tough to be on Beijing.

Editorial | Time for Germany to see reason and improve relations with China

With Trump and his frequently anti-European rhetoric, Berlin should see the writing on the wall and move away from its hardline stance.

Hitting China with tariffs should be ‘last resort’, German foreign minister says

During two-day visit to the Chinese capital, Johann Wadephul also calls for Beijing to recognise Europe’s concerns and ‘take action’.

China leans on German carmakers to help break Brussels tariff deadlock

Commerce vice-minister urges German industry leaders to leverage their clout to push the European Commission towards a compromise on the anti-subsidy probe.

German foreign minister calls for end to ‘uncertainty’ on Chinese rare earths, chips

Critical minerals, semiconductors and other commodities dominate talks as Johann Wadephul begins trip to China aimed at addressing trade.

Why top German diplomat’s China trip aims to manage rivalry but won’t reset ties

Critical minerals and Ukraine war expected to be top priorities as Germany’s foreign minister travels to China.

The great slowdown: Germany at a standstill as ‘China shock’ hits

As Europe’s biggest economy is pummelled by structural problems and external threats, rocky China ties are compounding the dreary picture.

Beijing rebuffs Takaichi, Macron-Xi talks, key economic meeting

This week: China rejects Takaichi’s Taiwan climbdown, Macron visits Xi in Beijing, US deepens Taiwan ties, PBOC slams stablecoins. Next week: economic planning meeting, November trade and inflation data, Hong Kong Legco elections and more.

Opinion | Stumbling Germany needs a clear strategy on China

Berlin must ditch the fantasy that it can profit without strategic risks, stop acting like a junior partner and decide what it stands for.

German foreign minister in ‘last stages of coordinating’ trip to China

Johann Wadephul also states he backs a speedier form of de-risking and diversifying away from Beijing’s stronghold on critical minerals.

‘Issues remain’: US-Ukraine talks advance, but Europe cautious on Russia deal

Trump hails ‘big progress’ in talks, while Germany confirms US plan was modified with Nato and territorial demands removed.

Premier Li Qiang urges Germany to be ‘rational and pragmatic’ on China policy

Meeting between Li and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on G20 sidelines marks a step towards mending ties.

Outcry forces cancellation of Holocaust artefacts auction in Germany

The controversial sale, titled ‘The System of Terror’, was cancelled after high-level Polish intervention and outcry from Holocaust survivors.

Gaza risks permanent partition between Israel and Hamas as Trump plan falters

Gaza reconstruction may be limited to Israeli-controlled areas, risking long-term division and placing Palestinian sovereignty in limbo.

Germany must work with China to build trust after relations turned frosty: expert

Berlin’s foreign policy is bogged down by specifics and lacks vision, observer says.

Beijing protests after Taiwan’s No 2 leader makes speech at European Parliament

Second-in-command Hsiao Bi-khim addresses unofficial conference of lawmakers, prompting ‘indignation’ from Beijing.

Editorial | Less hostility towards China in new US security strategy is welcome