Status: 10/23/2022 5:49 p.m
The discussion about Chinese participation in the Port of Hamburg continues. There is increasing criticism in the Union – but also understanding. SPD leader Klingbeil denied that China would have access to the critical infrastructure.
Demands are increasing in the Union to ban Chancellor Olaf Scholz from selling shares in the Port of Hamburg to the Chinese shipping company. CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt asked Scholz to “stop the Chinese entry as soon as possible”. The sale of the gas storage facility to Russia should “serve as a cautionary tale,” he told the “Welt am Sonntag” newspaper.
Röttgen fears dependency
Scholz is leading German China policy in the wrong direction, said CDU foreign politician Norbert Röttgen to the newspapers of the Funke media group. “He wants to allow the Chinese state to enter the port of Hamburg and thus further increase our dependency.” The existing dependency of the German economy on China is “irresponsible. Increasing it further endangers the sovereignty of our country.”
CDU leader Friedrich Merz warned in a circular email that a Chinese stake in the terminal company would “deeply affect our country’s security interests”. A Chinese state-owned company would thus gain “access to essential data on freight traffic in the port of Hamburg. And this at exactly the time when the Communist Party in China is again intensifying its aggressive tone in foreign policy and is threatening a war against Taiwan.”
Günther emphasizes the chances of the deal
On the other hand, Schleswig-Holstein’s Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) showed understanding for the sales plans. “It is important to us in Schleswig-Holstein that the port of Hamburg is economically successful and that investments are made there,” he said Report from Berlin. “And it’s also done very defensively in this area: It’s a subsidiary of the Port of Hamburg. It’s a minority stake.” That’s why he finds it “already understandable”.
SPD boss advises to weigh up
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil warned against drawing hasty conclusions. It’s about “a minority stake in a terminal” and “not about letting the Chinese into the critical infrastructure.” Klingbeil also said he urgently advises not to repeat mistakes made in dealing with Russia Deutschlandfunk. There shouldn’t be any similar dependencies on China, for example in the technological area.
Expert sees possible danger
According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), the Chinese offer is putting the Port of Hamburg in a difficult position. “When Cosco says, ‘You will become a preferred port if you accept the stake’, one naturally has to ask the question: What if this stake is not approved?” said Rolf Langhammer from IfW Kiel NDR.
The Chinese shipping company Cosco wants to take over a 35 percent stake in the Hamburg container terminal in Tollerort. A review period runs until October 31, by which time the federal government could prohibit the business. If she does not do this, the sale can take place. Scholz rejected criticism of a possible Chinese participation at the EU summit on Friday.