China first, German elections second

By Johnny Erling

China has an increasingly worse stance in German politics. Back in the 1970s, however, there was a competition to see which politician and campaigner would be received by Mao – and how long the talks would last. Back then, going to China was considered a sign of foreign policy relevance. A time that now seems like a distant memory – especially since it has been the source of many curious anecdotes, the likes of which would be unthinkable today.

Taking a swing at China is part of the standard repertoire in the US political campaign. It is now gradually spilling over to Europe. In Germany, political parties are also taking a stand ahead of the Bundestag elections, where the People's Republic is still a partner or already a "competitor and systemic rival". The Berlin-based China Research Institute Merics compared the election programs and drew a conclusion: "Unlike previous election campaigns, China is playing a bigger role this time. Almost all parties are taking a critical stance on China."

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