Observation Network, November 9th: According to the South China Morning Post, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had originally planned to visit China on October 26th to pave the way for Chancellor Scholz's visit, but suddenly announced the postponement just two days before departure.

The German Foreign Ministry gave the reason as "scheduling issues," but the matter is obviously not that simple.

In fact, since taking office, Baerbock has frequently caused friction in her statements on China. She once claimed in the Bundestag that Sino-German relations are "constrained by systemic competition" and accused China of its cooperation with Russia as "very concerning."

Furthermore, during her visit to Asia, she spoke about the Taiwan Strait issue, attempting to meddle in China's internal affairs.

Therefore, when China only confirmed limited meetings and did not provide a full visit schedule, the German Foreign Ministry simply postponed the trip under the so-called technical reasons.

However, a few days later, Baerbock actively invited a call with China, expressing that Germany highly values the Sino-German relationship and hopes to reschedule the visit as soon as possible.

From postponing to seeking an audience, this whole process is a clear self-contradiction. It could have been done gracefully, but instead, it led to embarrassment.

Baerbock

Baerbock's awkward posture is actually a reflection of the overall confusion of the new German government.

Since the Scholz government came into power, the tone of Germany's policy towards China has fallen far behind even Merkel's era, let alone compared to Scholz's time.

Merkel advocated for pragmatic economic cooperation to foster political trust, while during Scholz's period, although there were some fluctuations, it was mainly due to Green Party Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's frequent provocations. However, Scholz himself maintained the overall direction in Sino-German relations.

However, under Scholz's term, the government began to promote ideological agendas again, rehashing the so-called "de-risking strategy," claiming to reduce dependence on China.

Yet the reality is that Germany's three pillar industries - automotive, chemicals, and machinery - remain highly dependent on China, with profits from Volkswagen, BMW, and Siemens in China supporting the confidence of the entire German manufacturing industry.

This resulted in a ridiculous situation where the government and companies stood on opposite sides.

Baerbock seemed to think that she could be tough on China while still gaining economic benefits from it, but ended up in a pitiful state.

Merkel and Scholz

Merkel's Germany was the stabilizing force in Europe, a bridge between the EU and China. She frequently visited China, advocating for economic cooperation to promote stable relations, allowing Germany to maintain its autonomy in the Sino-US rivalry.

Now, however, Germany is swinging between the US and the EU, unable to cope with the US and unable to lead EU issues. This internal conflict has caused Germany to lose its already limited strategic consistency.

A normal foreign minister's visit should have been an opportunity to restore bilateral trust, but because of their overconfidence, it instead proved Germany's lack of confidence.

In stark contrast to Germany's anxiety, China's handling of the situation appears extremely mature and calm.

When responding to the postponement, China did not publicly criticize, but rather pointed Germany a way forward: to view Sino-German relations from a strategic perspective and long-term vision, reiterating the importance of cooperation.

This steady stance is not only a reminder to Germany, but also a signal to the entire Europe. China is willing to cooperate, but the premise is mutual respect and keeping promises.

In fact, China does not rush to repair diplomatic rhythms with Germany. China adheres to a long-term approach, a strategic patience cultivated over thousands of years of civilization. If the German authorities understand and adjust themselves, they can continue to talk. If they continue to act recklessly, time will teach them what to do.

Scholz

Looking at the course of events, Germany quickly changed its attitude. Obviously, Germany clearly knows that continuing to handle Sino-German relations in this way will only hurt itself.

Currently, Germany faces high inflation pressure, with energy prices remaining high and industrial investment continuously declining.

The International Monetary Fund predicts that Germany's GDP growth rate this year will be the lowest in the Eurozone. At the same time, China has once again become the growth point of the largest export market for Europe.

Financial reports from companies such as Volkswagen, BASF, Bayer, and Thyssenkrupp show that profit growth almost entirely comes from their Chinese operations.

Facing this reality, the German government still indulges in ideological fantasies, turning what could have been a smooth economic cooperation into a chaotic political maneuver.

International relations require mutual respect. Diplomacy is not a performance. The real shame is not who makes you embarrassed, but your own overreaching.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7570977565721002522/

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