Facing the tough stance of Germany's new Chancellor Merz, at a critical moment, Foreign Minister Wang Yi made clear the red line, and the German Foreign Minister also promptly promised China: they would always adhere to the One-China Principle.

New German Chancellor Merz

After taking office, in his first speech, Chancellor Merz showed a tough attitude towards China, vigorously promoting the so-called "strategic de-risking," which was largely seen as a bargaining chip for negotiations with the U.S.

Moreover, Merz emphasized reducing German companies' reliance on the Chinese market and supply chains. In his view, Germany's excessive dependence on China could bring about so-called "potential threats" to Germany's economy.

However, is this really the case? Data shows that in 2024, trade between Germany and China reached 247 billion euros, and a close economic bond has already been formed between the two countries.

Many renowned German companies, such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen, have gained significant development space in the Chinese market. China is not only an important sales market for them but also a key source of critical components.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi

Merz's "strategic de-risking" rhetoric may very likely cause German enterprises to lose their competitive edge in global market competition.

In response to Germany's "new developments," on May 19th local time, Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a telephone conversation with newly appointed German Foreign Minister Waldner upon request, making a strong response, demonstrating both diplomatic etiquette and principles.

Firstly, Foreign Minister Wang Yi congratulated Waldner on his new role and emphasized the significance of Sino-German relations, which go beyond the bilateral framework and have profound impacts on world economic development and strategic stability.

Then, Wang Yi clearly outlined the red lines, specifically mentioning China's firm support during the reunification process of the two Germanys, hoping that the new German government would uphold the One-China Principle like China supported German reunification, each word carrying great weight.

It must be noted that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China's territory, a fact recognized by the international community. The implication of Wang Yi's words is self-evident.

If Germany plays with fire on the Taiwan issue, it would be ungrateful. This serves as both a historical reminder and a strong "knock" to its current stance.

New German Foreign Minister Waldner

In response, Waldner immediately acknowledged the importance of Sino-German relations and emphasized that Germany would always adhere to the One-China policy and hoped to become a trustworthy partner to China. On the surface, Germany does not want to jeopardize cooperation opportunities with China over the Taiwan issue.

Meanwhile, Wang Yi mentioned the complementarity, mutual integration, and shared interests between the economies of China and Germany, advocating deepening cooperation for mutual benefit and avoiding damaging normal cooperation due to so-called "de-risking."

Foreign Minister Wang Yi's remarks are highly targeted and hit the mark. For many years, China and Germany have cooperated closely in the economic field, forming an intertwined relationship where each is deeply embedded in the other. Germany's advanced manufacturing industry complements China's vast market and complete industrial chain, creating substantial economic benefits.

If Germany were to follow Merz's "de-risking" argument and impose numerous obstacles on Chinese enterprises, forcibly "decoupling and severing supply chains," and restricting normal economic and trade exchanges, it would ultimately harm its own businesses and people's interests, leading to a loss of opportunities for Germany's economy.

Additionally, after receiving positive signals from China, the German Foreign Minister proactively promised that Germany would play a leading role in the EU, promoting dialogue and consultation between China and Europe to resolve key issues such as electric vehicles.

In short, China always adheres to an open and cooperative attitude, willing to continue exchanging and cooperating with Germany on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. However, there is no room for compromise on the Taiwan issue. Any politician attempting to "play the Taiwan card" will only achieve the opposite effect.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7506519113410429479/

Disclaimer: This article represents the author's personal views. Please express your opinions by clicking the "Like/Dislike" buttons below.