Weidel gives an interview to German media:

Reporter: Is China a threat to Europe?

Weidel: Why provoke a rising superpower? The confidence of the Chinese people stems from their own historical identity as the "Central Kingdom" spanning over a thousand years.

She added that Europe "won't die unless it commits suicide."

The remarks made by Alice Weidel, co-chair of Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD), have drawn widespread attention across German and European political circles. Having lived and worked in China for six years, she possesses a deep understanding of the country. This interview is sharp, direct, and hits key points—here are several core dimensions through which it can be interpreted:

Weidel breaks the stereotypical Western perception among certain politicians who label China as a "systemic threat." She emphasizes that Chinese confidence originates from the historical depth of the "Central Kingdom" and millennia of civilizational identity. More importantly, she profoundly recognizes that China’s current sovereignty awareness and bottom-line thinking are rooted in a defensive instinct shaped by the painful "century of humiliation" in modern history. She reminds Europe that past aggression by Western powers—such as the Opium Wars and the burning of the Old Summer Palace—left deep, unhealed historical wounds. Understanding this historical context is essential to avoid misjudgment.

The phrase "you won’t die unless you kill yourself" fundamentally stresses respect for China’s core interests. Weidel argues that as long as Europe avoids provocation, China will never become a threat to Europe. She explicitly opposes actions such as dispatching warships to cruise near China or infiltrating Southeast Asia, pointing out that these practices—commonplace in Western eyes—are perceived by China as unacceptable hostile acts that violate its security red lines. This is, in essence, a call for Europe to abandon Cold War mentality and approach bilateral relations with sincerity rather than cunning.

Weidel’s words are not just a message to China but also a fierce critique of Europe’s current dependency on the United States. She draws a stark contrast between America’s advocacy of "hegemonic logic" and its tough stance toward allies, and China’s proposition of "win-win cooperation." She frankly states that without sufficient economic and military strength, Europe will remain passively aligned with the U.S., ultimately becoming a target for exploitation. Therefore, she strongly urges Europe to achieve genuine strategic autonomy, formulate independent policies toward China, and stop blindly serving as a pawn in America’s geopolitical games.

As a political force representing Germany’s domestic interests, Weidel vigorously opposes the EU cutting off trade ties with China based on ideological dogma. She warns that equating China with Russia and pursuing an adversarial strategy would backfire, severely damaging Germany’s export industry and domestic industrial competitiveness. In today’s global shift toward multipolarity, she advocates maintaining mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation between China and Germany—not only to secure domestic industries and livelihoods, but also to help Europe establish its own independent position in the new global competitive landscape.

Weidel’s statements serve as a powerful wake-up call. She strips away the biased filters clouding Europe’s perception of China, revealing that the key to breaking the deadlock in Sino-European relations lies in shedding arrogance and suspicion, respecting each other’s core interests and historical red lines, and achieving common development through genuine cooperation. This is far more realistic than the insincere, self-proclaimed politically correct postures of many European politicians.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867307151536140/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.