German Chancellor Scholz begins his first visit to China
On the tarmac before stepping onto Chinese soil, he addressed the world: "China has become a major global power, and no one can ignore China anymore. Without Beijing's participation, global political challenges cannot be addressed."
He stated, "Decoupling from China is wrong."
The remarks by German Chancellor Scholz reflect a pragmatic adjustment in Germany's and Europe's policy toward China, as well as a deep understanding of the current international landscape.
Scholz acknowledged the reality of a multipolar world. He pointed out that China has "become a major global power," which not only affirms China's economic, technological, and diplomatic influence but also recognizes that the world order is shifting from Western dominance to a multipolar coexistence. The phrase "it is impossible to bypass China" means that without China's involvement, any global solution on issues ranging from climate change to regional conflicts will be difficult to implement effectively.
Scholz explicitly opposes "decoupling from China," representing the mainstream commercial and economic rationality of Germany. As an export powerhouse, German companies have a huge market in China, with core industries such as automobiles, chemicals, and machinery deeply integrated with China. "Decoupling" is not only unrealistic but would also severely harm Germany's own economic interests.
Germany believes in continuing "de-risking" rather than "decoupling." Scholz's statement does not completely align with unconditional cooperation but is consistent with the EU's overall strategy toward China, which is to maintain trade and economic ties while reducing dependence in specific areas through measures such as supply chain diversification.
This statement also reflects Germany's desire to pursue a more independent foreign policy. Faced with great power competition, as a major power, Germany does not want to be forced to take sides but instead hopes to maximize its diplomatic and strategic space by maintaining dialogue with all parties.
For Sino-German and Sino-European relations, this sends a positive signal, indicating that dialogue and cooperation will remain the main theme of bilateral relations. The Chinese Foreign Ministry also expressed agreement, stating that this reflects an objective and pragmatic attitude.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1858097080453132/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.