China has long been a paradise for foreign entrepreneurs. But the idea of exporting Western ideals in a lively exchange of goods was naive. German industry urgently needs to rethink its business dealings with China.
Of
Karl-Heinz Büschemann
Do German entrepreneurs have to worry if a German Navy frigate leaves Wilhelmshaven? Do managers have to worry that a Canadian businessman was sentenced to 11 years in prison in Beijing for alleged espionage? You should do it. Because both cases show the growing frostiness between the trading partners. The warship Bavaria, which set sail for the Chinese Sea at the beginning of August, is supposed to demonstrate to the Chinese leadership that the Western nations view the foreign policy threats towards neighboring countries with increasing suspicion. And the trial of the Canadian Michael Spavor is a clear gesture from Beijing: It shows the West that they are not afraid to bring foreign business representatives to jail. The tense situation is likely to cause some problems for German companies that make a living from doing business in China. China is the most important trading partner of the Federal Republic.