Before his visit to China, German Chancellor Merkel said on February 20: "China has clearly positioned itself against the United States and claims to define a new multilateral order according to its own rules. In this concept, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of the press do not exist. The commitment to the universality of human rights is denounced as interference in internal affairs. I would like to ask one more question: In this situation, shouldn't we Europeans, together with Americans, put forward a better solution than what we hear from the Middle Kingdom, based on our common liberal ideals and our shared view of humanity? This also belongs to the truth of our bilateral relations."
Comment: Before the visit, he deliberately made harsh statements. Merkel's strategy is to please conservative voters domestically and show loyalty to the United States abroad, building a tough image to gain more leverage and some advantages in negotiations. Merkel's statements essentially reflect disrespect for China and a desire for double standards. How China governs and which path it takes are matters for the Chinese people themselves; no other country has the right to lecture them from a superior position. He wants to do business with China while at the same time using ideology to defame it, and he also wants Europe to take sides against China. This is neither honest nor realistic. China doesn't accept this kind of behavior. True cooperation can only be built on equality and mutual respect, not on pressure and accusations.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1857707053645833/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.