- Mocking reactions to possible lex Huawei
- Geely subsidiary Volvo scales back distribution
- Xi considers CATL’s market position too dominant
- Trudeau investigates alleged election rigging
- Credit Suisse allowed to manage assets
- US poised to pass law against TikTok
- Heads: Berlin designer Yi Meng Wu
That the German government wants to ban Huawei technology from 5G networks was somewhat lost in China in view of the flood of news surrounding the National People’s Congress at the beginning of the week. But in the meantime, the topic is being hotly debated in the People’s Republic, especially on social media.
However, the leadership in Beijing itself seems conspicuously indecisive, writes Fabian Kretschmer: On the one hand, an economic threat backdrop is supposed to be built up and Berlin is supposed to be portrayed as Washington’s vassal. On the other hand, China continues to see Germany as a potential partner. It seems unwise to seek confrontation prematurely.
Modern technology from China, a prestigious brand from Europe – that was the idea when Geely took over the then-ailing Swedish car company 13 years ago and, in this way, actually ensured a comeback for the brand. But this recipe no longer quite works. Volvo has had a difficult year, as Frank Sieren analyzes, and must now thin out its distribution network.
Of all things, the Chinese competitors, until recently no-names, are becoming the biggest problem for Volvo. Once again, the brand seems to play less and less of a role in purchasing.
Felix Lee
Feature
Beijing mocks possible Huawei law
Initially, the Chinese government responded to the headlines with silence. Only late Tuesday evening did it release a first statement via its embassy in Berlin: “In recent years, countries and anti-China forces have continued to attempt to smear Huawei with trumped-up charges, but there has never been any evidence that Huawei equipment and components pose security risks.” If media reports of a ban on Chinese 5G equipment turn out to be true, the Chinese side is very puzzled and strongly dissatisfied with the hasty decision.
But just such a decision is apparently imminent, according to German media reports. According to the report, the German government is planning to retroactively ban certain critical technology from Chinese network suppliers such as Huawei and ZTE – a step that other countries such as the US and the UK have already taken.
Good relations with Germany desired
In China itself, the leading state media reacted remarkably late. Of course, this also has to do with the flood of news surrounding the National People’s Congress, in which the Huawei ban in Germany is not necessarily one of the most pressing issues.
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