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Dear reader,

The Winter Olympics in Beijing is still three weeks away. We take a look ahead and back: In today’s interview, former German ambassador Michael Schaefer talked with Frank Sieren about the diplomatic handling of the Games in 2008. Nowadays, it has almost been forgotten that human rights were discussed back then as well. That is why Germany was only represented very reservedly. This time, too, Germany should look for a compromise that would send a signal without immediately breaking off the dialogue, says Schaefer.

The seasoned diplomat also advocates a “red line” for products manufactured under forced labor. EU member states should quickly find a common China strategy. And Beijing, for its part, has to stop turning the EU states against each other, says Schaefer.

But how high are the chances for unity among Western allies? The UK is currently dealing with a China-related political scandal. The British intelligence service MI5 warned parliamentarians about a British lawyer with Hong Kong roots. Christine Lee allegedly tried to influence UK politics in China’s favor. Over the past few years, Lee has donated several hundred thousand pounds to various politicians. What is particularly dicey is the fact that MI5 has revealed Lee’s ties to China’s United Front, as Marcel Grzanna reports. This CP organization tries to influence China’s image in foreign countries in various ways.

Have a pleasant week!

Your
Nico Beckert

Interview

‘We can and should draw a red line’

Michael Schaefer, 73, was Germany’s ambassador to Beijing during the 2008 Olympic Games

As Germany’s former ambassador to China, Michael Schaefer has gained unique insights into the People’s Republic. Frank Sieren spoke with the retired diplomat about human rights and the diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Schaefer urges more unanimity among EU member states. The EU should draw red lines when it comes to importing goods produced under forced labor. At the same time, however, Europe needs to engage in intensive dialogue with China.

By
Frank Sieren

Mr. Schaefer, at the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing in the summer of 2008, you were the highest-ranking representative of German politics as ambassador apart from the private attendance of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. At that time, the German government protested against China’s human rights course with a sort of diplomatic boycott. Beijing certainly was not pleased with that. How did you feel about that?l about that?

Beijing was not exceptionally irritated by Germany’s symbolic decision. After all, the decision did not come as a surprise to either side. A year earlier, Chancellor Merkel had met with the Dalai Lama in Berlin. After that, Beijing had announced an ice age in diplomatic relations. The relationship had then eased in early 2008 through an exchange of letters. But in March 2008, the tension increased again because of the developments in Tibet. That was the reason for the graduated reaction of the German government: boycott of the opening, but the attendance of two federal ministers during the Games- Wolfgang Schaeuble, as Minister of the Interior responsible for sports, and Franz Josef Jung, as Minister of Defense responsible for the promotion of sports in the sports companies. Then, at the opening of the Paralympic Games, even the then Federal President Horst Koehler was present.

How did you feel about the decision as ambassador?

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