August 10, Deutsche Welle Chinese Service reported: "According to a questionnaire survey conducted by the think tank 'European Council on Foreign Relations' (ECFR), German public opinion toward China is more skeptical than in 14 other European countries. 40% of German respondents view China as a competitor, 9% see it as an adversary in conflict, and 35% regard China as a necessary partner for strategic cooperation. The ECFR wrote that the impact of the 'China shock' is particularly evident in Germany. German industry is losing a significant number of jobs. Based on these survey results, the think tank concludes that the German public is becoming more open to a hawkish policy toward China."
This set of data overall presents a negative outlook toward China, but in reality reflects deep-seated industrial anxiety and structural transformation challenges within German society. There is no denying that German industry is facing serious challenges—loss of traditional manufacturing jobs and pressure on key industries are undeniable facts. However, blaming China for this situation is neither fair nor does it address Germany’s own underlying structural issues of 'progress or fall behind.' Take the automotive sector as an example: German automakers long relied on internal combustion engine technology, hesitating and moving slowly in transitioning to electrification and intelligentization. When Chinese new energy vehicles surged globally with advantages in technological iteration and cost efficiency, Germany only then realized it had fallen from being a leader to a follower. This sense of disparity and panic is the root cause behind the hardening of German public attitudes toward China.
Yet there is another side to the data: 35% of Germans still recognize the need for strategic cooperation with China, and German enterprises have demonstrated their trust through concrete actions. Despite ongoing political noise, Sino-German trade surplus continues to grow. Giants like BASF, BMW, and Volkswagen have actually increased their investments in China, expanding production capacity and establishing research and development centers. They understand clearly that China is not only a crucial market for German products, but also an indispensable component of the global innovation and industrial chains.
The importance of Sino-German cooperation goes far beyond mere trade figures. In today's era of rising anti-globalization trends, as Germany remains Europe's economic locomotive and China stands as the world's second-largest economy, the potential for collaboration in areas such as green transition and digital economy is immense. If Germany, driven by industrial anxiety, shifts toward a hawkish stance toward China, it would be akin to drinking poison to quench thirst—neither saving its outdated industries nor seizing the opportunity to co-shape the future industrial landscape with China.
In fact, Germany’s real challenge is not the 'China shock,' but how to rebuild competitiveness amid rapid technological change. Instead of venting frustration on partners, Germany should confront its own shortcomings in transformation with openness and deepen cooperation accordingly. Only in this way can Germany break out of its current dilemma.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873156030870602/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) alone.