![]() ![]() She added that in discussions with German companies, she and Scholz had underscored that lessons had to be drawn from Russia's war on Ukraine.Īt the same time, she underlined the importance of boosting cooperation with Beijing in areas on which both sides can agree. In a clear warning to German companies, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock underlined that Berlin would not be able to bail out huge industrial groups with deep ties with China should a crisis erupt with Beijing. Over the last months, Germany has been busy diversifying its imports or bringing the production of key components such as semiconductor chips to its soil.īut Germany's export giants have expressed concerns over the shift away from China, fearful of alienating the huge market. The conflict has also prompted Berlin to accelerate plans to reduce its reliance on China after the coronavirus pandemic acted as a wake-up call on the risks of depending on the Asian giant for health essentials like surgical gowns, masks or medication. Russia's war has deeply shaken Germany, forcing it to rip up long-held pacifist policies to instead drastically re-arm its army. ![]() It cites Russia as "for now the most significant threat to peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic area", blasting Moscow's invasion of its neighbor Ukraine. Germany fears ex-pilots share secrets with Chinaĭrawn up under the lead of the foreign ministry, the strategy document covers defense pledges such as the NATO two-percent spending vow, supply chain security and cyberattacks."But at the same time the security issues that arise for us must be taken into account," he said, adding that Germany "doesn't want decoupling, we want de-risking". Publication of the much-awaited strategy blueprint came just days before Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang was due to visit Berlin.Īsked what message the document sent to Beijing, Scholz told a press conference "the point is that China will continue to grow economically and that China's integration into world trade and world economic relations should not be impaired. "That is why we must grasp the options and opportunities for cooperation in these fields in particular," the paper said. "China is trying in various ways to remold the existing rules-based international order, is asserting a regionally dominant position with ever more vigor, acting time and again counter to our interests and values," the strategy paper said.Īt the same time, it acknowledged that the Asian giant "remains a partner without whom many global challenges and crises cannot be resolved". The document prepared by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition slammed China for putting regional stability and international security "under increasing pressure" and for disregarding human rights. Michele Tantussi, Pool via EPA-EFE/FileīERLIN - Germany on Wednesday called China a "partner, competitor and systemic rival" in its first national security strategy, accusing Beijing of repeatedly acting against the European giant's interests in a bid to reshape the global order. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (R) and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang (L) address the media during a press conference in Berlin, Germany, May 9, 2023. ![]()
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