US EditionGerman foreign minister heads to Beijing as Berlin toughens China stance
Johann Wadephul aims to secure critical raw materials and address geopolitical and human rights concerns amid rising Germany-China tensions, coordinated with EU partners.
- On Dec 8, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul travels to Beijing for his first visit as Berlin toughens its stance, meeting Chinese foreign ministry and trade officials and visiting Guangzhou on Dec 9.
- After an October cancellation, Wadephul postponed his trip because China’s Beijing authorities confirmed only one meeting and gave him a cold shoulder shortly after his public criticism of China.
- On economic matters, Wadephul aims to secure access to rare earths and semiconductors vital for Germany's automotive industry and renewable energy sector, seeking guarantees like those given to the United States.
- Coordinated with EU partners, the trip follows Emmanuel Macron, President of France's visit and could lay groundwork for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's early next year Beijing trip, testing Berlin's credibility.
- On security and rights, Wadephul will press Beijing to use its influence on Russia for Ukraine talks, raise Xinjiang and forced labour concerns, and Germany has set up an expert committee on security-relevant trade relations.
32 Articles
32 Articles
The CDU politician is catching up with his visit to China at the end of October due to a lack of high-level appointments. The Foreign Minister's press conference in the live ticker.
Germany’s New Foreign Minister Heads to Beijing as Berlin Hardens China Policy
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul arrives in Beijing for his first official visit as Germany adopts a tougher, more coordinated stance toward China. The trip previously postponed when Beijing confirmed only one meeting request comes as Berlin pushes to rebalance economic ties, reduce strategic dependencies and align more closely with EU partners. Wadephul will meet […] The post Germany’s New Foreign Minister Heads to Beijing as Berlin Hard…
On German Official’s China Trip, Rights Not Negotiable
The visit of Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul from December 8 to 9 to China is more than a diplomatic ritual, it’s a critical test for the credibility of German foreign policy. At a time when the Chinese government is deepening its repression, Germany should not treat human rights as a footnote
The Foreign Minister is visiting Beijing. At the center of the talks are China's export controls for rare earths. Wadephul is pushing for the dismantling of trade barriers.
At the end of October, the German Foreign Minister's inaugural visit burst almost at the last minute – because there were too few high-ranking appointments. That's different now, but the delicate points remain.
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