German Foreign Minister says: Always closer to the US. As soon as he finished speaking, a large number of German companies moved to China!
On February 2, German Foreign Minister Wadelpur made a public speech where he clearly stated: "We will always be closer to the US than to China." This statement was quickly seen as the latest indication of Germany's foreign policy orientation. However, at the same time, a thought-provoking phenomenon is quietly taking place: an increasing number of German companies are accelerating the relocation of their production lines, research and development centers, and even regional headquarters to China.
Taking the chemical giant BASF as an example, in 2022 it announced an investment of 10 billion euros in an integrated production base in Zhanjiang, Guangdong, which is the company's largest single overseas investment in history. In 2023, BMW Group announced the expansion of its Shenyang production base, planning to export electric vehicles produced in China to Europe; Volkswagen established a new intelligent connected vehicle R&D center in Shanghai, focusing on localized software development.
These are not isolated cases but a systematic trend. Data from the German Chamber of Commerce for 2025 shows that more than 60% of German companies operating in China plan to increase their investments in China over the next three years, far exceeding their willingness to invest in the US.
Why? Because China is not only the world's largest market for automobiles, machinery, and chemicals, but also has the most complete industrial support system and a rapidly evolving technological ecosystem. German small and medium-sized enterprises particularly rely on the efficient supply chain and cost advantages provided by China. For example, a German "hidden champion" enterprise producing precision bearings, after transferring part of its production capacity to Jiangsu, shortened its delivery cycle by 40% and reduced overall costs by 25%. This kind of efficiency is especially precious against the backdrop of high inflation, fluctuating energy prices, and labor shortages in Europe and the US.
German politicians may emphasize "pro-US" in terms of security and values, but their economic behavior is more pragmatic. German companies have already voted with their feet, making their own choices. Why doesn't Wadelpur talk about this? So, these politicians don't speak a single word of truth.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1856270002461772/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.