- Confrontation at government talks
- WTO seeks renewal with China
- Baltic countries distance themselves from China
- Tariffs on steel products lifted
- Beijing wants to make data export punishable
- Borrell: Relations with China are becoming increasingly difficult
- EU commissioner: China should support marine protected area
- Oil leak after collision off Qingdao
- Jeffrey D. Sachs: The Xinjiang genocide allegations are unjustified
They were probably their last talks in this framework when Angela Merkel and her cabinet met the Chinese ministers and head of government Li virtually on Wednesday. Finn Mayer-Kuckuk explains the background to the consultation and classifies the constructive but, at the same time, openly critical mood. Merkel wants to stick to the CAI investment agreement despite international criticism – and she hopes that her successors will not abandon the tradition of regular meetings between the two governments.
Much promised, little delivered: Marcel Grzanna shows that it was precisely false promises and military exercises with Russia that scratched China’s image in the Baltics, so much so that the country is now seen as a security risk by the Baltic states.
Beijing also made big promises when it joined the WTO in 2001. The twentieth anniversary of accession will soon be celebrated, but the balance sheet drawn up by EU experts is anything but rosy, as Amelie Richter analyses.
Have a good start to the day.
Ning Wang
Feature
Confrontation at government talks
The German-Chinese government consultations on Wednesday were about a broad “spectrum of cooperation”, as Chancellor Angela Merkel said at the start of the online meeting with head of government Li Keqiang. Both sides initially assured each other of their appreciation. But then it quickly became clear that the talks also had gruff passages. “China and Germany have different views on some issues. That is an objective fact,” Li said.
There were conflicts in several fields. “The topic of human rights has traditionally always played a role in our talks,” Merkel said. “There are also differences of opinion on this, especially when we think of the situation in Hong Kong, for example.” Li, however, forbade himself to criticize here. Germany should negotiate “on the basis of equal treatment and non-interference in internal affairs”. Then China could create “favorable conditions for further smooth development of cooperation”. He pointed out that both Germany and China have an interest in open markets and free trade. In this context, Hong Kong, according to the Chinese reading, falls under the “internal affairs” from which Germany should stay away. And even if Merkel at least mentions Hong Kong: She did not offer concrete assistance to the democracy movement there. In the meantime, it has been largely crushed.
The closed round also dealt with the fate of the CAI investment agreement. This is still awaiting confirmation by the European Parliament – and China has just fallen out with it by imposing entry bans on MEPs. But while critics are increasingly doubtful about the viability of the CAI, Merkel continued to speak positively about it. “I think this investment agreement can also be a cornerstone for economic relations, for transparent relations, for mutual market access and reciprocity,” the chancellor said. It would create more legal certainty. China would have to abide by international labor standards in the future, she said. “Reasonable working conditions everywhere and for all people in Germany and in China are of great importance.”
Continue reading now
… and get free access to this Professional Briefing for a month.
Are you already a guest at the China.Table? Log in now