Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz landed today in Beijing to discuss business with China. Meanwhile, he ignores EU pleas.
For decades, Germany has been the economic powerhouse of Europe. Its industry knew no equal, and was considered the best country in Europe to invest in. The war in Ukraine, however, destroyed Germany’s castle of cards.
Its dependency to Russian gas threw Germany into a desperate energy crisis whose outcome is still not completely clear. Since then, Germany and its Chancellor Olaf Scholz have taken steps to mitigate or oppose sanctions against Russia. Further, Germany constantly impeded EU actions against Moscow, while often acting alone.
One would think that Germany would stop relying too much on dangerous dictators in far-away countries. Well, as Scholz flies to Beijing to secure economic ties with China, history seems to repeat itself.
A couple of weeks ago, Germany sold part of the Hamburg port (their biggest harbor) to China. Sure, the size of the deal wasn’t exactly stupendous (only 24.9% of a single terminal), but experts point out how it benefits China far more than it benefits Germany. And with other crucial German imports like computers, pharmaceuticals and rare earths relying mainly on Beijing, the European Union is seriously concerned.
For decades, Germany was considered the de facto leader of the European Union. Even their own Constitution states the importance of inter-european relations. And yet, in the past decade Germany seemed to throw all of this out of the window.
Indeed, Scholz prefers to fly to Beijing for an official visit rather than meet with French President Emmanuel Macron. France is supposed to be Germany’s closest ally, especially with a war raging inside Europe. But Berlin keeps snubbing Paris, taking further steps against EU unity.
What did Scholz do with China in Beijing
Scholz landed in Beijing with a delegation of important German CEOs. La crème-de-la-crème of German industry was there, from Deutsche Bank to Volkswagen executives.
The visit comes with tensions between China and Taiwan at historic highs. The EU firmly supports Taiwan independence, something that has led China to sanction some European countries. Lithuania and the Netherlands, for example, were sanctioned by Beijing. These countries also denounced alleged war crimes committed by the Chinese Communist Party in Xinjiang.
The West as a whole is starting to recognize the Uighur genocide, an ethnic cleansing that is taking place right now within China’s borders. But Germany, EU’s “leader”, goes to dinner with Chinese officials to make business and sells them their ports.
Further Germany dependance to China will have far-reaching geopolitical consequences. Tensions between the West and Beijing are rising, and it might come to a point where an economic war erupts between the two blocks.
And Germany, much like it’s doing right now in Russia, will have to play both sides.
