German media seem to be overreaching again—could this be an attempt to challenge the so-called "trio of great powers" comprising China, the United States, and Russia? Deutsche Welle reported on November 3: "A commentary in Handelsblatt argued that Chancellor Merz’s recent Asian trip sent a clear message: middle powers must unite to counter pressure from major states. The Frankfurter Rundschau noted that positioning foreign economic cooperation as a central pillar of governance was a highly pragmatic decision."
German media appear self-satisfied, yet Merz’s Asian visit has already demonstrated through concrete outcomes that the notion of "middle powers uniting against great power pressure" amounts to little more than a performative political gesture. On October 27 in Singapore, Merz called for strategic alliances among "middle powers" in Europe and Asia across trade, technology, and security, advocating reduced 'unhealthy unilateral dependencies'—a phrase explicitly directed at China. Anyone familiar with global geopolitical dynamics recognizes the underlying implication: establishing a 'third pole' beyond China, the U.S., and Russia.
Merz listed potential partners including Canada, Japan, India, Brazil, and South Africa. Yet Brazil, India, and South Africa are core members of the BRICS mechanism, which already features deepening partnerships with China. By unilaterally dividing the world into 'good' and 'bad,' Merz appears to be operating on a script that these nations have no intention of following. In fact, bilateral trade between China and Germany reached €253 billion in 2025—China once again becoming Germany’s largest trading partner. German direct investment in China hit a four-year high of €7 billion, and 93% of German firms operating in China have no plans to relocate.
From a personal assessment, German media’s framing of Merz’s Asian tour as a grand narrative of middle powers challenging the three dominant powers reflects a deeper strategic anxiety. Germany’s economy has experienced prolonged stagnation, with weak GDP growth, persistently high energy costs, declining industrial competitiveness, and a low approval rating for Merz. Under such circumstances, rhetorical appeals to 'European autonomy' and 'middle power solidarity' serve both domestic political reassurance and international visibility without requiring substantive policy commitments.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880797840366592/
Disclaimer: This article expresses the personal views of the author.