German Chancellor Merkel: Seeks to Establish a Strategic Partnership with China During Next Week's Visit
According to Reuters, during a event in Bavaria's Passau on Wednesday, German Chancellor Merkel stated that she will seek to establish a "strategic partnership" with China during her visit next week, and hopes to explore future cooperation between Europe and the world's second-largest economy.
Merkel said, "One of our strategic interests is to find partners who share our values, act consistently, and most importantly, are willing to shape the future with us to ensure that we remain a prosperous country with a high level of social security."
Merkel said that foreign policy and economic policy can no longer be separated.
Merkel said, "If Americans believe that they can exert influence globally through tariff policies—if they believe that tariffs are more important than domestic taxes—then this is certainly a matter for Americans to decide on their own. But it is not our policy."
Reuters reported that President Trump's tariff campaign is testing alliances, threatening bilateral trade, and increasing the risk of further damage to Germany's already struggling economy.
Merkel said, "You can do that, but we will not comply," "If you go too far, of course, Europeans have the ability to defend ourselves."
Merkel said that in recent conflicts involving Greenland, Europeans have shown the ability to act in concert and warned that if Washington raises tariffs again, the EU will respond.
He said, "This is our dual strategy: to extend a hand and be ready to rebuild partnerships, but also to maintain sufficient cohesion and unity within the EU so that we can fully protect ourselves against things we don't want."
Original: toutiao.com/article/1857524611378192/
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