At the meeting between Foreign Minister Baerbock and her Chinese counterpart Qin Gang, it became clear that there is a great need for talks between Germany and China – often not pleasant talks for either side.
China and Annalena Baerbock. A difficult field. During her most recent visit to Beijing, her otherwise so controlled Chinese counterpart suddenly came up with the word schoolmastery when he was talking about the West and Baerbock. The German foreign minister therefore began with pleasantries in Berlin today.
She recalled that the two of them had just rushed together on their visit to China in a high-speed train at 330 km/h towards Beijing. “I’m pleased that we can keep this pace of train in our exchange,” said Baerbock. Qin Gang politely picked up the ball, reminding them that Berlin was the first stop on his European trip and that they were meeting for the third time in three months. So far – so diplomatic.
Taiwan, free trade, human rights
However, despite the multiple encounters recently, mutual understanding does not seem to have increased. However, there are some problems. “Our list of topics was already long in Beijing,” said Baerbock. And it hadn’t gotten any shorter, she added.
Taiwan, free trade, human rights and above all the Russian war of aggression. Baerbock became very clear very quickly and said that China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, could play a significant role in ending the war “if it decides to do so,” the minister urged. But the Chinese apparently decided to show how schoolmasterly China can be.
“Honest dialogue” at government consultations
Even today, the word “war” never left Qin Gang’s lips. Officially, China prefers to speak of a “crisis”. It is highly complex. Simplifications and emotionalization are not a solution. “One should remain sober and reasonable,” said Qin, probably referring to the German minister who had previously accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of desecrating the World War II commemoration that was taking place.
Baerbock stood by and at least kept his nerve. She reminded that if Russia stops fighting, negotiations are possible. Should Ukraine stop fighting, Ukraine will cease to exist. “I don’t think that’s what a member of the Security Council wants,” she said pointedly. That would be the end of the United Nations Charter if the world community simply accepted a war of aggression.
Nothing a Chinese foreign minister likes to hear publicly. He looked unmoved and then heard that Baerbock announced a joint honest dialogue – also for the upcoming seventh German-Chinese government consultations, the first of the traffic light government.
Thin diplomatic ice
And for Foreign Minister Baerbock, an honest dialogue also includes the keyword human rights. That’s why she openly said that during her last visit to Beijing, the recipient of the Franco-German human rights award was arrested by the Chinese authorities. “We are calling for his release together,” says the minister coolly.
At that point at the latest, real and honest dialogue had arrived on very thin diplomatic ice. The Chinese foreign minister called for respect and equality, and then, via the translator Baerbock, said that China, as a sovereign state, acts according to its laws and does not tolerate any interference in internal affairs.
When the minister then also explained the concept of “de-risking”, the German attempt to be less dependent on individual global supply chains or countries, in this case China, it became very, very matter-of-fact. China is following “de-risking” with great concern, the Chinese said. After all, opportunities are exported instead of crises and security instead of risks.
“Mr. Lindner is still very welcome”
A lot to discuss at the German-Chinese government consultations, which the two foreign politicians were supposed to be preparing today. Incidentally, tomorrow the Chinese Foreign Minister will meet a department head from the Chancellery. Qin Gang does not meet the German finance minister. China had just unloaded him – due to alleged scheduling difficulties.
Christian Lindner (FDP) actually wanted to meet his counterpart in preparation for the government consultations in Beijing. The Chinese foreign minister appeased the invitation, a “purely technical issue” that shouldn’t be overestimated. “Mr. Lindner is still very welcome,” says Qin Gang. But Mr. Lindner is obviously angry.
In a podcast by “The Pioneer” he called for a less velvety-footed demeanor than previous governments had shown with China. “We will not let our liberal values be bought for good business,” said the German finance minister. The FDP had previously spoken of an irreverent affront.
The need to speak remains great
The German-Chinese relationship is complicated. No wonder that the German government’s China strategy is still a long time coming. In his speech to the European Parliament today, the chancellor called for the EU to become a “geopolitical European Union that takes on Russia, but also China.”
The Chinese foreign minister will have heard that with interest today. At any rate, at the end of a very public and very clear press conference at the Federal Foreign Office, there was a very honest German foreign minister who shook hands with her Chinese colleague and called out to the journalists in the room: “As you can see, there is still a lot to talk about.”