BERLIN — Berlin must change its approach to China as the country moves toward a more openly “Marxist-Leninist” political trajectory, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote in an op-ed on Thursday.
In his op-ed for POLITICO and Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Scholz defended his trip to China on Thursday, but stressed that German companies should take steps to reduce “dangerous dependencies” in industrial supply chains, particularly in terms of “peak”. technologies”. Scholz noted that President Xi Jinping was deliberately pursuing a political strategy to make international companies dependent on China.
“The result of the just ended Communist Party Congress is clear: Affirmations of Marxism-Leninism occupy a much wider space than in the conclusions of previous congresses… As China changes, the way we deal with China must change . too,” Scholz wrote.
Germany has faced harsh criticism for Europe’s push into a strategically destructive dependence on Russian gas in recent years, and Berlin must now respond to suggestions that it is making the exact same mistakes by relying on China as a manufacturing base and trading partner.
While Scholz sounded a note of caution on China, he was far from suggesting that Germany was on the verge of a major upheaval in its largely cozy relations with China. Indeed, he was clearly echoing his predecessor Angela Merkel in insisting that the (unknown but apparently identified) United States should not drag Germany into a new Cold War against Beijing.
“Germany of all countries, which had such a painful experience of division during the Cold War, is not interested in seeing new blocs appear in the world,” he wrote. “What it means in relation to China is that of course this country with its 1.4 billion people and its economic power will play a key role on the world stage in the future — as it has for long periods in history.”
In a thinly veiled criticism of Washington’s policies, Scholz said Beijing’s rise did not justify “calls by some to isolate China.”
Crucially, he insisted that the aim was not to “disengage” – or sever manufacturing links – from China. He added, however, that he took “seriously” President Xi’s claim that Beijing’s goal was to “tighten the dependence of international production chains on China.”
Scholz plans to fly to Beijing late Thursday for a one-day trip to the Chinese capital on Friday, where he will be the first Western leader to meet Xi since his re-appointment and the first leader from the G7 group of top economies. visit China since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
The chancellor also sought to counter criticism that his trip undermined a common European approach to China. According to French officials, President Emmanuel Macron had suggested that he and Scholz visit Xi together to show unity and show that Beijing cannot divide European countries by playing their economic interests against each other – an initiative that the German leader refused.
“German China policy can only be successful when integrated with European China policy,” Scholz wrote. “In anticipation of my visit, we are therefore in close contact with our European partners, including President Macron, as well as our transatlantic friends.”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz echoed his predecessor Angela Merkel’s insistence that the United States must not drag Germany into a new Cold War against Beijing | Clemens Bilan-Pool/Getty Images
Scholz said he wanted Germany and the EU to work with a rising China – including on the important issue of climate change – rather than trying to wipe it out.
At the same time, he warned Beijing that it should not pursue policies that seek “hegemonic Chinese rule or even a Sino-centric world order.”
Scholz also urged China to end its support for Russia’s war against Ukraine and take a more critical stance towards Moscow: “As a permanent member of [United Nations] Security Council, China bears special responsibility,” he wrote. “Clear words from Beijing to Moscow are important — to ensure that the UN Charter and its principles are upheld.”
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