Annalena Baerbock’s “value-based, feminist” foreign policy is in conflict with the interests of the German economy. The three-day visit of the Green politician illustrates the dependence of German foreign policy on the USA and Germany’s slipping as a negotiating power.
On 13 April 2023, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock landed in China for the first time. Shortly before the flight, she made it clear that she did not want to “make any concessions in her value-oriented foreign policy in Beijing”. In addition, she criticised the host on the one hand regarding the Chinese province of Taiwan. Thus, China had “fuelled tensions with its military exercise around the island of Taiwan”. On the other hand, she supported French President Emmanuel Macron’s statements in advance, according to which “French China policy mirrors European China policy one-to-one”. It was therefore questionable in advance what position she would actually take.
On her arrival in Tianjin, she first visited a school and a wind turbine company. Baerbock pointed out that Taiwan was of paramount importance for semiconductor production and demanded de-escalation from China, without naming the previous provocations by politicians from Taiwan and the USA. A staunch anti-Russian transatlanticist, Baerbock called on China to use its influence with Moscow and condemn the Russian “war of aggression”. At the meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang the next day, unsurprisingly, there was further confrontation. There were accusations of “human rights and oppression of minorities”, and that protection was also “in the interest of the German economy”. Qin Gang clearly rejected this “What China needs least is a teacher from the West”. In Xinjiang, he said, it was also a matter of radicalism and separatism by foreign anti-Chinese forces. The Chinese foreign minister also pointed out that both states are countries of reason and thinkers and can therefore cooperate constructively rather than confrontationally.
Green NATO-warrior against China and Russia
Her statements are not surprising, as it corresponds exactly to the foreign policy positions of her party, which is one of the most aggressive agitators against China and Russia in Germany. For example, one could read the Green Party’s stance on the People’s Republic in its 2021 party manifest. There, the party set as its most important task to sharply criticise China’s internal affairs such as Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Based on this orientation, the Green Minister for Economic Affairs, Robert Habeck, had a confidential 100-page strategy paper prepared at the end of 2022 to reduce cooperation with China. Germany was too dependent on China and should instead trade more with “democratic” partners. To this end, the first steps from this strategy paper were already implemented in March 2023. Robert Habeck wants to restrict the export of certain German goods to China and limit the access of Chinese companies like Huawei to the German 5G market. Now export and investment restrictions are also being examined, as they already exist in the United States with regard to China.
German industry needs China
There is resistance to this insane and self-destructive policy in Germany. Also in politics, but above all in the German business community. On 22 March 2023, Michael Schumann, Chairman of the Board of the “Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA)”, assessed Habeck’s decisions regarding export restrictions as damaging to the German economy. Counter-reactions must be expected, he said. Volkswagen, Germany’s largest trading partner, will also continue to invest in China. The forecast for 2023 estimates a turnover of 45.17 billion euros. There is no country in the world where Volkswagen generates more sales. BASF, the largest chemical investor in China, had sales of around 5.5 billion euros in 2015. In 2022, BASF opened a new production site in Zhanjiang with a total investment volume of 10 billion euros and, according to BASF CEO Martin Brudermüller, plans further long-term cooperations. Even Baerbock visited the local German wind power company Flender Ltd. on the first day of her stay in China and there they explained to her the outstanding importance of the Chinese market for the German economy. After her landing, a representative of the German Chamber of Commerce referred to growth and innovation, as well as the importance of constructive and balanced bilateral cooperation. Some industrial sectors can hardly survive without the Chinese market.
US influence on Germany and the EU
The relegated hegemonic power, the USA, is increasingly escalating its economic war against the rising China. Therefore, the “allies” of the USA are being pushed to support this geopolitical conflict, even if it harms their own interests. To enforce this, the USA has transatlantic influence groups in all European countries. In Germany, apart from large sections of the mass media, these are above all parties such as the Greens and the FDP. But it is not only Europe that is divided on China policy. The current German government also has no clear line. Apparently, the German Chancellor, together with parts of his SPD party, is at least trying to delay the complete deindustrialisation and destruction of the German economy, despite massive pressure from the media and coalition partners. Macron’s visit to China and the statement “being an ally does not mean being a vassal, especially with regard to the Taiwan issue” has also created a small glimmer of hope at the EU level. But with the negative reactions to Macron and the pressure on Scholz, it is certain that this conflict over political lines will continue to escalate.
Brazilian President Lula’s visit shows Germany’s decline on the world stage
At the same time as the visit of the German Foreign Minister, Brazil’s President Lula meets Chinese President Xi Jinping. Lula was welcomed in the honorable Hall of the People in the Chinese capital. Brazil and China want to cooperate more closely and announced 15 new agreements between the two countries with an investment volume of around 900 million euros. These include a visit from Huawei and cooperations with the technology group – while Germany wants to avoid cooperations with Huawei in future. Baerbock’s visit is overshadowed by Lula’s visit in all media and shows the clear change in the new world order. In the past, Germany, as the largest manufacturing nation, was given the highest priority and attention during visits, especially for its clear neutral stance and non-interference in internal affairs. Exactly what the Chinese foreign minister called “countries of reason and thinkers”. On the contrary, Germany was known for its high degree of diplomatic sensitivity and, at the same time, economic cooperation. This offered Germany special room for negotiation, including constructive criticism. But now Germany’s influence on the world stage is waning and German visits are becoming secondary. This is not least due to the value-based foreign policy, interference in internal affairs and decoupling of economic cooperation; in the sense of US interests.
Germany’s bleak future in the new multipolar world order
The visit of the German Foreign Minister clearly shows that Germany’s internal conflict between the interests of German industry and the “value-based, feminist” Green foreign policy is increasing. Her statements that German industry is pursuing similar value-based policies do not correspond to the realities. Rather, industry will continue to seek ways of cooperation. The multipolar world order has arrived. Europeans have the choice of cooperation and collaboration, in line with Macron’s idea of an independent Europe. A choice for a peaceful, prosperous world with respect at eye level and win-win cooperation. This means above all: non-interference in internal affairs and respect for other cultures. Or they choose economic and political isolation and self-destruction. The decisive factor will be whether the EU, and especially some larger EU states, can free themselves from dependence on the USA and replace it with an independent foreign, economic and security policy in the interest of their own people. In the short term, however, no change can be expected; after all, at least in Germany, the transatlantic anti-German Green Party, but also the FDP, have government responsibility and will continue their Anti-Chinese and Anti-Russian policy.
Christian Wagner worked for seven years in the German heavy machinery industry and holds a degree in mechatronics and a bachelor’s degree in business law. In his last position, he arranged partnerships for economic, political and academic cooperation in China and other Asian countries. He is now active at the Law School of the People’s University of China (中国人民大学) for the Master degree in Chinese Law.
