German media: Technological self-reliance is the top priority

In the upcoming 14th Five-Year Plan to be released during the Two Sessions, the Chinese leadership has positioned technological self-reliance as the highest priority.

The article in Süddeutsche Zeitung analyzes that this policy shift will further intensify the competitive relationship between Germany and China, as well as the pressure on German companies. The Handelsblatt commentary suggests that building a partnership that is both critical and pragmatic may be the most realistic option for Germany to deal with Chinese challenges.

Alexander Brown from the Mercator Institute for China Studies (Merics) said: "Technological self-reliance has taken the highest priority." The key areas are semiconductors, artificial intelligence, batteries, and biotechnology. Crucially, it is whether a country can independently complete production processes in these fields when external supply chains are disrupted. Previously, this was merely an uncertain industrial policy project, but now, despite the fact that achieving the goal of technological self-reliance is not economically viable, it has been incorporated into long-term planning.

The analysis article in Süddeutsche Zeitung points out that, contrary to the expectations of most economists, the new five-year plan does not include large-scale measures to boost domestic demand. Obviously, in the eyes of the Chinese leadership, controlling key technologies and raw materials is more important. Whoever controls semiconductors, batteries, or rare earths has greater strategic flexibility.

"This sends a clear message to Europe. The new five-year plan further solidifies the ambition to lead in future industries. If the previous goal was to catch up with the West, the future goal is to maintain long-term dominance," Brown said. "This is particularly worrying for German industry." In the fields of machinery manufacturing and electrical engineering, China's global export share has already exceeded Germany's. In the chemical and automotive industries, the gap between China and Germany is also narrowing. Currently, Germany is losing about 10,000 industrial jobs every month. Although there are many reasons, the increasing competitiveness of China is the most critical factor. Brown believes: "This competitive pressure will only increase in the future."

China remains a huge sales market and offers numerous attractive investment opportunities. At the same time, Beijing is also organizing domestic enterprises to rapidly rise in core industries.

The economic relationship between Germany and China has also undergone a disruptive change. In 2025, Germany's exports to China fell by nearly 10%, and exports of automobiles and auto parts even dropped by 33%. At the same time, imports from China increased by nearly 9 percentage points.

This asymmetric economic development between Germany and China, along with the U.S. withdrawal from transatlantic consensus, is having an impact on Germany's domestic politics. Forming a strategic partnership with China may not be realistic, since it requires both sides to have a shared vision for global development. However, establishing a partnership that is equal and critical may be feasible.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1858859538454540/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.