DThe Chinese government has reacted with criticism to reports on the first draft of the German government’s future China strategy. The Federal Foreign Office is currently formulating the future foreign policy principles for Germany’s dealings with China. The strategy concept is related to the Federal Government’s new national security strategy, which has also not yet been completed.
A few days ago, a first draft of the China concept was forwarded to the other departments of the Federal Government for comment and approval; The Ministries of Defence, Economics and Development Aid as well as the Chancellery are involved.
The magazine “Spiegel” and the newspaper “Handelsblatt” reported on Wednesday, citing this first draft, that among other things an “in-depth examination” of investment guarantees is required in order to guarantee social standards “such as the avoidance of forced labor in supply chains”. One is also “ready within the EU framework to support import bans from regions with particularly massive human rights violations”.
Beijing is following the discussion closely
Germany’s economic dependencies should be reduced quickly and at reasonable costs for the German economy. The draft maintains the three-pronged classification of China as partner, competitor and systemic rival, but notes the latter two aspects are gaining increasing weight.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that “artificial trade barriers” and a “politicization” of normal economic cooperation will “fall on the toes” of those who operate them. “We call on the German side to maintain an objective and rational attitude in relations with China and to respect objective facts,” it said in a statement at the request of the FAZ
The discussion about the China strategy announced for next year is being followed closely in Beijing. The draft that has now become public should reinforce the Chinese leadership’s assessment that the coalition is divided on its China policy. The prevailing expectation in Beijing is that the Chancellery will have a “moderating” effect on the strategy.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has demanded that China contribute to the financing of future damage caused by global warming. The Green politician said on Thursday after her arrival at the world climate conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, that the industrialized countries are responsible for the climate damage caused by their past pollutant emissions. However, there are now economies like China that have “developed massively”. Therefore, China must also pay for “the damage of the future”.
