German companies have long relied on China to expand their business. Now they are trying to counteract this and are turning more to other Asian countries. That’s right, but is it enough?
When German politicians set off for China, there is a lot of agenda in the passenger list alone. Because if that Who’s who German industry is on board, then there are obviously major economic interests at stake. That was the case with former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s trips to China, and it is no different with her successor Olaf Scholz (SPD). The usual suspects are also on the move in China this time. Siemens boss Roland Busch, who is also chairman of the Asia-Pacific Committee and therefore the class representative of the business entourage, the car bosses of BMW, Mercedes and VW, the bosses of Bayer and BASF. The German economy simply cannot function without China, not even a little bit.