【Text by Observer Net, Qi Qian】

According to Reuters, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will begin her visit to China on Sunday (October 26).

On October 23 local time, Baerbock said in an interview that one of the goals of her trip is to persuade China to relax its export restrictions on critical minerals.

It is reported that Baerbock will be the first minister from the Merz government to visit China. Among those accompanying Baerbock are the president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) and the Managing Director of Noble Elements, a German rare earth importer.

According to reports, Baerbock also plans to emphasize the importance of free flow of goods through the important trade corridor of the Taiwan Strait.

He then made remarks on the Taiwan Strait issue, claiming that if free flow "becomes impossible due to violent conflict, it will have an impact on the prosperity of many regions around the world." He said Germany will remain firm in its One-China policy, "which also includes the need to avoid violence changing the status quo."

In the interview, Baerbock told Reuters that he will call on China to use its influence to promote peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. He said, "We hope China can contribute to achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. No other country has as great an influence on Russia as China does."

China's position on the Taiwan Strait issue has always been consistent. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Jian, recently reiterated that Taiwan is not a country, neither in the past nor in the future. No matter what the authorities of the Democratic Progressive Party say or do, it cannot change the historical and legal fact that Taiwan is part of China's territory, nor can it change the universal consensus of the international community to uphold the One-China principle. China will ultimately be unified, and it will certainly be unified.

Regarding the Ukraine issue, China has repeatedly stated its position. In May this year, when Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, spoke with Baerbock on the phone, he pointed out that China has always been committed to promoting peace and dialogue, supporting the achievement of a fair, lasting, and binding peace agreement through direct dialogue. Baerbock said he hopes China can play a role in influencing the situation to achieve a ceasefire and end the Ukraine crisis as soon as possible.

Photo of the new German Foreign Minister Baerbock speaking, screenshot from video

Reuters mentioned that in recent years, like other European countries, Germany has been striving to reduce its dependence on China, citing political tensions and concerns over so-called "unfair trade." However, data shows that in 2024, China remains Germany's largest trading partner.

Currently, EU countries are in a difficult situation because of China's latest measures on rare earth exports.

Baerbock claimed that China's actions are particularly worrying. He said, "Of course, I will clearly discuss this issue during my trip. I am sure that stable and reliable global trade relations and supply chains are of great interest to China, just as they are to us. Only by abiding by fair and open international trade rules can this goal be achieved in the long term."

The EU leaders held a summit in Brussels on October 23 local time. According to a report cited by Bloomberg, the EU countries may discuss trade issues with China at the summit. The EU is examining trade options against China as a response to China's latest rare earth export control measures. It was revealed that the European Commission is preparing a list of trade measures, which is expected to be released by the end of this month.

A source said that Germany, France, and Poland support discussing China's increasingly strict trade measures toward the EU at the summit. France hopes the EU will consider all retaliatory options against China, while Germany expressed willingness to discuss using the trade "nuclear option" - the "anti-coercion" mechanism.

The Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) came into effect at the end of 2023, allowing the EU to restrict trade and services, cut certain intellectual property rights, limit foreign direct investment and access to public procurement. Many see it as a "nuclear option," whose ideal function should be deterrence, but it has never been used so far. After the Trump administration imposed tariffs, EU countries often hinted at using this tool, but eventually nothing came of it.

However, according to a report by European News, EU member states still have serious differences on this issue and worry that any escalation between China and Europe could severely hit the European economy. The report suggests that using the trade "nuclear option" remains a distant idea for the EU.

According to the website of the Ministry of Commerce, Minister Wang Wentao had a video meeting with the EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Valdis Dombrovskis, on the 21st. Wang Wentao said that regarding the issue of rare earth export controls, China's recent measures are a normal practice to improve its export control system in accordance with laws and regulations, reflecting China's major power responsibility to maintain world peace and stability. China is committed to maintaining the safety and stability of the global industrial and supply chain and has always provided approval convenience for EU enterprises.

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7564601910339994131/

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