China
Data Protection Act + VDMA + Hungary + Five-Year Plan + Taiwan + Olympics + Sabrina Habich-Sobiegalla
Dear reader,
The German Press and Information Office in Berlin's transcription of a telephone conversation between the Chancellor and China's President Xi Jinping on Wednesday was worth a mere ten lines. It spoke of "international efforts in the production and distribution of vaccines" and of "issues of economic cooperation, efforts to protect the climate and preserve biodiversity". The German Chancellor wants to hold a "dialogue" with Xi at the upcoming Sino-German intergovernmental consultations, work "in-depth" on bilateral issues and discuss the "entire range of relations", including issues where "differences of opinion exist".
Differences of opinion? Beijing is facing serious accusations of violating human rights in its treatment of the Uyghur minority. In Hong Kong, democrats are in jail while the Parliament is being politically equalized. And for just over a week, European parliamentarians and academics have been hampered in their work by Beijing's sanctions.
Of course, there are trade-offs to be made when Europe, when the German government looks to China. Its own economic interests in a globalized world and not least climate policy issues are evident. But what assertiveness outwardly and credibility inwardly does a chancellor still have who, at the low point of European-Chinese relations, informs us about a telephone conversation with Xi on "biodiversity" – but does not mention Europe with a single word?
