German Chancellor Olaf Scholz paid an important visit to China between 14-16 April 2024. While European powers are hesitant to do business with Beijing, Berlin’s insistence on dialogue and cooperation is noteworthy. Major Western powers such as France, the United Kingdom and the United States of America (USA) have warned Germany of the “dangers of going it alone” in its relations with China.[1] Germany, on the other hand, gives the green light to co-operation with China in order to contribute to the construction of a multipolar world.
For many years, Germany had been focusing on co-operation with Russia, but the war in Ukraine put it in a difficult situation, especially in terms of energy security. Europe has started to express similar concerns about China. In this context, European powers have started to limit their trade with China as part of a “risk aversion” or “risk minimisation” strategy. In such a period, Scholz’s visit to Beijing with a large business delegation and his pursuit of new partnerships led to criticism from the Western World.
German businesspeople, especially large industrialists, continue to believe that the real risk lies in underinvesting in China, which claims to be the world’s largest economy.[2] At least 5,000 German companies are already operating in China. Scholz faces serious challenges from the German business community, which is divided over the idea of “de-risking”, and pressure from his coalition partner, the Green Party, which is not in favour of doing business with China.
The Prime Minister’s party, the Social Democratic Party, believes that China can put pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine. Therefore, Szholz’s main agenda items during his visit were the strengthening of open and fair competition in trade and the persuasion of Russia to peace. These contacts once again highlighted the divergence of opinion between Germany and the European Union on “trade with Beijing” and “Russia”. Scholz is clearly not in favour of Brussels’ “de-risking” policy and focuses primarily on Germany’s national economic interests.[3]
On the other hand, China wants Europe to stop the trade war. Chinese President Xi Jinping told Olaf Scholz that “both sides should be wary of the rise of protectionism”, implying that Berlin should not pursue a policy of de-risking because there is no risk in this regard.[4]
It seems that Germany pursues a different China policy than the Atlantic powers. This deepens the divergence between continental Europe and the Atlantic countries. Germany is keen to end the war in Europe in order to sustain its economic growth and is particularly keen for China to use its influence over Russia in this regard.
Indeed, Scholz had visited Beijing on 4 November 2022 and made similar calls during his meeting with Cinping.[5] At the time, Scholz described China as a “great country” responsible for peace in the world.[6] At a time of chaos and polarisation all over the world, it is an important message that Berlin and Beijing are committed to dialogue. The two countries are ready to work together to contribute to world peace and development.
This visit may contribute to the expansion of the multipolar vision in the world. As a matter of fact, Beijing is trying to expand its multipolar world vision towards Europe. Until now, the United States has pursued a bloc policy against Russia and China, and in this sense, it has wished to see continental Europe on its side. Scholz’s insistence on co-operation with Beijing could therefore represent an important break in transatlantic relations.
In recent years, the US has frequently expressed its discontent with Germany’s developing economic relations with China. Scholz’s visit to Beijing two years ago was also heavily criticised by the US. In this context, the Atlantic powers argue that Germany has betrayed the US and harmed American interests. For example, American journalist and foreign policy expert Tom Rogan wrote an analysis titled “Waltzing in Beijing, Germany’s Olaf Scholz plays the US for a fool”.[7] In this analysis, Rogan argues that Germany cannot act freely under American (NATO) protection, that Washington should not turn a blind eye to Berlin’s betrayal, and that this co-operation carries enormous risks for American interests and the democratic order.[8]
Germany, which has seriously shaken the perception of the “US-led West”, reminds that it is in fact a “Eurasian power” by continuing to seek cooperation with Beijing. Continental Europe, led by Germany, is not in favour of following the strategy of the US and the UK in its regional policies. The US prefers to marginalise China rather than compromise and cooperate with it. This attitude causes China to shift more towards Russia. In this sense, Germany emerges as an important balancing actor in world politics. On the one hand, it is trying to establish delicate balances in transatlantic relations, while on the other hand, it objects to Russia and China being pushed to the opposite pole by the West. Ultimately, Germany and China stand against global polarization and emphasise the importance of cooperation on the basis of multipolarity.
[1] “Scholz in China: The dangers of going it alone”, Le Monde, https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2024/04/16/scholz-in-china-the-dangers-of-going-it-alone_6668574_23.html#, (Date of Access: 17.04.2024).
[2] Aynı yer.
[3] “Visit to China by German Chancellor Scholz shows divisions in EU over how to engage with Beijing on trade and Russia”, SCMP, https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3259275/visit-china-german-chancellor-scholz-shows-divisions-eu-over-how-engage-beijing-trade-and-russia, (Date of Access: 17.04.2024).
[4] “Scholz wants Xi to stop Russia’s war. Xi wants Europe to stop trade war.” Politico, https://www.politico.eu/article/german-olaf-scholz-wants-china-xi-jinping-stop-russia-trade-war-ev/, (Date of Access: 17.04.2024).
[5] “Scholz Asks China to Press Russia to End Its War”, BBC, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63496195, (Date of Access: 17.04.2024).
[6] “Germany’s Scholz presses China on Ukraine”, The Courier, https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/7970152/germanys-scholz-presses-china-on-ukraine/?cs=5461, (Date of Access: 17.04.2024).
[7] “Waltzing in Beijing, Germany’s Olaf Scholz plays US for a fool”, Msn, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/waltzing-in-beijing-germany-s-olaf-scholz-plays-us-for-a-fool/ar-AA13JEcp?li=BBnbcA1, (Date of Access: 17.04.2024).
[8] Ibid.
