China-Germany relations

After lacking clear guidelines for years, Berlin has clearly outlined its national interests and the means to protect and realize them.

Olaf Scholz said that the domestic processing of vital minerals, a key goal of the Indonesian government, be included under any future trade pact.

Growing negative sentiment toward China will increase the pressure on Berlin to moderate its approach toward Beijing.

The two use similar language to talk about China, but that doesn't mean their positions are the same.

The Lithuanian delegation in particular drew parallels between the threat they face from Russia and the threat Taiwan faces from China.

The German chancellor’s trip to China was driven by pragmatic calculations – and it seems to have paid off.

The recent visits to Beijing of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Council President Charles Michel reflected the ongoing attempt to calibrate Europe’s China policy.

There were few deliverables from the short visit, but Beijing is hopeful it indicates Germany is moving out of alignment with the U.S. approach to China.

Olaf Scholz’s visit to China represents a break with the Coalition Agreement and a return to a commercial foreign policy approach.

Olaf Scholz has kept Germany’s business-first approach to China but that’s increasingly at odds with trends at home and abroad.

Under new Chancellor Scholz, obstacles remain for transatlantic coordination on China.