After Foreign Minister Wadephul postponed his trip to China, Finance Minister Klingbeil is now leaving for Beijing. Green Party leader Franziska Brantner spoke of signaling a “haphazard foreign policy” and called for a clear China strategy.
The Green Party criticized Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil’s (SPD) trip to China. “The federal government is sending very contradictory signals to Beijing,” Green Party leader Franziska Brantner told the Editorial Network Germany (RND) newspaper on Monday. “If the Foreign Minister had to cancel his trip due to the lack of a serious offer to hold talks, while the Finance Minister arrived at the same time as planned, then that would look haphazard in terms of foreign policy.”
Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) postponed a planned trip to China in October. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that China could not yet confirm Wadephul’s appointment. However, the visit had to be rescheduled.
Green Party leader Brantner has now said, in light of Finance Minister and Vice-Chancellor Klingbeil’s trip to China, that Germany needs a “clear and coordinated China strategy”, especially considering China’s role in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and new trade restrictions. He added: “After relations with Moscow, we don’t need relations with Beijing anymore.”
Klingbeil should talk to those responsible in China about threats to stop shipments of chips or rare earth metals, Brantner told the RND newspaper. “I expect Mr. Klingbeil will emphasize healthy competition in Beijing.”
German-Chinese financial dialogue in Beijing
Klingbeil will take part in the German-Chinese financial dialogue in Beijing on Monday. “We seek dialogue with China to find solutions to pressing problems despite rising international tensions,” the Finance Minister said on Sunday before his departure. He also found words of caution: “Access to critical raw materials and reducing China’s excess capacity in sectors such as steel and electromobility are crucial for the German economy and jobs. We are not afraid of competition, but it must be fair.”
Regarding the Ukraine war, Klingbeil explained that China played a “decisive role in ending this war.” On Wednesday, Klingbeil will travel to Shanghai and exchange ideas with representatives of German companies active in China. On Thursday we will continue to Singapore.
AFP/DP
