German Vice-Chancellor calls for update of China strategy
Published: Friday, Jun 21st 2024, 17:10
Back to Live Feed
Germany has struggled hard and long over a China strategy. The new roadmap was drawn up a year ago. Now Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck says: "Two points are missing.
The German government's China strategy, which was only adopted last year, should be revised, according to Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens). "Sooner or later, the China strategy will need an update," said the Green politician at a reception at the German embassy in Beijing on Friday.
Two things were missing, said Habeck. The current strategy starts "with the status quo, but not with the horizon". The question is what the relationship with China will look like in thirty years' time.
"I say that because I am sure that China has a strategy for where they want to go, and I believe the USA does too." Furthermore, it is a strategy of the German government alone, but a European approach is needed.
Less economic dependence on China
Last summer, Germany adopted a comprehensive China strategy for the first time. It defines the country, which is ruled with a heavy hand by the communist leadership, as a partner, competitor and systemic rival. The core of the strategy is to reduce economic dependency on China in order to avoid a rude awakening like the one after the Russian attack on Ukraine when gas supplies were cut.
The German government, made up of the SPD, Greens and FDP, had a long - and very controversial - struggle over the strategy. The Greens, led by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Habeck, advocate a much tougher course than Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).
When asked later by journalists, Habeck only referred to the second part of his comments. "The USA and China are completely repositioning themselves in terms of power politics. Russia is attacking Ukraine. It is important that Europe stands together."
Different approaches in Europe
The China strategy is "an important step for Germany" and there is a strategic approach. "But it is a German China strategy and the approaches in Europe are quite different."
At a meeting with the ambassadors of the EU states in Beijing, he said that these approaches must be combined in a changed world, Habeck said. "This is not something that can be done in the short term, but rather a long-term task for Europe."
Europe can set rules for itself internally and also control them. "But Europe must now become capable of acting in terms of foreign policy, security policy and global politics. Of course, this includes China and requires a common approach towards China, but does not end with China."
©Keystone/SDA
English 
German 
French 
Spanish 
Arabic