This DW piece covers Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil’s trip to China at a moment when the relationship is strained on almost every front — trade, technology, and geopolitical alignment. Klingbeil is trying to keep dialogue open while pushing Beijing on market access, fair competition, and China’s recent export controls on critical minerals. The visit comes as German companies face rising pressure in the Chinese market, and Berlin works to reduce strategic dependencies without disrupting one of its most important trading relationships.
For Germany, the trip reflects a delicate balancing act: staying economically engaged with China while signaling that Europe will defend itself against unfair practices. It also highlights the differences in approach within the German government — for example, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul had previously postponed his own China visit, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz is under pressure to clarify Germany’s overall China strategy. Klingbeil emphasizes maintaining dialogue and addressing sensitive topics like rare earth dependencies, Taiwan, and industrial overcapacity, aiming to translate conversations into concrete collaboration without compromising strategic interests. It’s a reminder that Germany’s prosperity and industrial future are still deeply tied to China, even as political trust continues to erode.
Read the full story on DW’s website.