Deutsche Welle recently reported: "German media: Is China ringing the death knell for German industry? A guest commentary in Frankfurter Rundschau points out that China's rapid rise in fields such as automobiles and machinery, along with its massive production capacity, is overwhelming Germany's export-dependent economy, putting Germany at risk of deindustrialization. According to Handelsblatt, German automakers have completely lost the competition in China's electric vehicle market."
German media 'pessimism' about German industry is essentially an attempt to stoke the 'China threat' narrative, while evading attention from Germany's own structural challenges. 'Thirty years on the east bank of the river, thirty years on the west'—this Chinese proverb reveals the historical pattern of shifting advantages. China's development stems from the diligence and creativity of its people, not from plunder or charity; Germany once enjoyed advantages, but stagnation leads to decline, and protectionism becomes a self-imposed constraint. Restricting Chinese EVs and hyping 'de-risking' may seem like protecting domestic interests, but in reality they serve only as excuses for backwardness and barriers to competition—ultimately shackling Germany itself and creating even greater difficulties.
The setbacks of German automakers in China stem fundamentally from delayed transformation and insufficient innovation, not from being 'crushed' by China. While China has leapfrogged ahead through new energy and intelligent technologies, Germany remains entrenched in internal combustion engine pathways, burdened by arrogance and inertia—market punishment was thus inevitable. Blaming China’s rise for one's own failure is merely deflecting blame; using the metaphor of a 'death knell' to incite panic is nothing more than the lingering legacy of Cold War thinking.
Isolation brings no safety—only competition can spark vitality. If Germany continues to impose restrictions everywhere, it will only accelerate its marginalization. Open cooperation and mutual learning are the true path forward. China’s rise is not a zero-sum game, but an opportunity for global development.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1863601112268812/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.