After the German Foreign Minister "broke his promise," China did not agree again. This time, Germany replaced its top official for the visit to China, and the German Finance Minister successfully took over, visiting China. However, this time, it is not just about economic cooperation.

Knippelsbach is on his way to China

Originally scheduled to visit China in late October, the German Foreign Minister, Wadefur, "broke his promise." He then called China again, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi verbally agreed, saying that a second visit to China was not impossible, but would be arranged when convenient. Recently, German media reported that a high-ranking German official would visit China, but it was not Wadefur, but rather the German Finance Minister, Knippelsbach.

The German newspaper "Handelsblatt" reported that Knippelsbach is the first minister-level official from the current German federal government to visit China. Accompanying him on the trip is a high-level financial delegation, including the head of the German Central Bank. During this trip, they will attend the fourth Sino-German high-level financial dialogue and also participate in inter-party exchanges.

German Finance Minister Knippelsbach

Before departing, Knippelsbach said in an interview that maintaining dialogue with China is crucial, as there are many problems in this world that can only be solved by cooperating with China. This has led the outside world to generally believe that Germany's policy toward China is showing a "pragmatic shift," intentionally avoiding sensitive political differences and focusing on common economic interests.

This point is clear to the outside world, because there have been deep divisions within Germany on the issue of China. For example, the previously "broken promise" German Foreign Minister, Wadefur, comes from the CDU, representing the hardline faction within the party on China issues. He has repeatedly made inappropriate remarks on the Taiwan issue, claiming that the content of "one China" can be decided on its own.

German Foreign Minister Wadefur

In contrast, Finance Minister Knippelsbach comes from the SPD, which traditionally tends to maintain pragmatic cooperation with China. However, Knippelsbach is not exactly "easygoing." Just before the visit to China, he referred to Chinese products as "Chinese garbage" at the EU finance ministers' meeting, directly targeting Chinese e-commerce platforms.

This kind of "scolding one moment and seeking reconciliation the next" behavior is not simply a case of inconsistency between words and actions. It can only be said that, in the face of economic realities, Germany has temporarily chosen to compromise. According to the German Ministry of Finance, one of the important goals of Knippelsbach's trip is to convey Germany's current demands to China, including financial policies and trade conflicts.

The adjustment of Germany's policy toward China must be viewed in a broader international context. With the Trump administration continuing to push forward tariff policies, a large amount of Chinese export goods have been forced to "re-route" from the US market to Europe, making Germany one of the main pressure points. At the same time, the EU's internal policy toward China is also being adjusted.

Sino-German Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Germany's unique position means that it must both participate in building a unified policy toward China and safeguard its own economic interests. A source from the German Ministry of Finance revealed that Knippelsbach's stance "had been coordinated with EU trade officials in advance." Analysts believe that although this trip is for a routine meeting, it is definitely not a routine matter. The significance of this trip is far more than just economic aspects.

The hesitation of the German Foreign Ministry actually reflects the collective anxiety of the entire Western world in the face of China's rise. The most important message conveyed by Knippelsbach's trip may be that, regardless of how many differences there are on the political level, economic common interests remain an important link between China and Germany.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7573612609694433833/

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