While Alice Weidel is surprisingly quiet in Germany about the fact that she lived in China, speaks Chinese and wrote her doctoral thesis on the Chinese pension system, this is precisely why she enjoys a career of her own in the People’s Republic – as an internet star and darling of the state media.
There, the election frontrunner for the far-right AfD is praised for her supposedly positive stance towards the People’s Republic and how she combines the “wisdom of East and West.” There is even manga fan art of her circulating on social networks. Many also see Weidel as the embodiment of the “Iron Lady” – a determined, uncompromising politician. Meanwhile, her popularity enables young Chinese people in particular to engage in controversial discussions about politics – something that would quickly get them into trouble if it were about their own politicians.
In today’s issue, we shed light on this bizarre and even disturbing phenomenon for you – because the hype about Weidel says a lot about contemporary China and about what people dare and dare not say.
In China, 阿丽丝-魏德尔 (Ālìsī Wèidé’ěr) is a star. “My uncle called me the other day and excitedly asked if she would be Germany’s new chancellor,” says a Chinese IT student in Berlin, who does not want her name to be published and wants to be called Maxine Zhou here. “She perfectly fits the nationalistic and strict image of a politician, which is one of the favorite types of conservative Chinese.” In fact, the election frontrunner for the far-right AfD is often called 铁娘子 (tieniangzi) “Iron Lady” in China. However, this term is used excessively – even Angela Merkel is sometimes referred to in this way. “I think there is a fascination with the ‘Iron Lady’ in China because this type of woman was always praised in communist propaganda,” says Maxine Zhou.
A search for Alice Weidel’s name in the Chinese search engine Baidu returns countless hits. A random test shows: All articles are positive – with a tendency to gush. “With her resolute political stance, outstanding rhetorical skills and unique personal charm, she has won the support of many voters,” praises the military publication of China.com, a state-associated news portal. “Who is currently the most popular female politician in European politics?” asks a Chinese-language online publication called 51.Canada. The website is aimed at Canada’s large Chinese community, which is also a popular immigration destination for Chinese politicians and officials. “Without a doubt, it is the German politician Alice Weidel. (…) Her charismatic and outspoken personality, as well as her background of having lived in China, have immediately earned her numerous fans in China.”
Alice Weidel speaks surprisingly rarely about her connection with China. According to media reports, she spent six years in the country. She worked in Shanghai and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for companies such as Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse and Allianz. Her press office did not respond to a corresponding inquiry. She reportedly also speaks good Chinese. Her doctoral thesis was on the “Pension System of the People’s Republic of China.” Subtitle: Reform options from a regulatory theory perspective to increase risk resistance. The thesis was awarded “magna cum laude” in 2011. Plagiarism hunters were unable to prove any serious violations. All of this should make Weidel a China expert in the public eye, or at least in the AfD’s PR efforts. But it seems that the decision has been made to make little mention of this connection.
A delegation trip to China in the summer of 2023 was deliberately not labeled as a “return” but as an “excellent first step.” It was said that Weidel was just one of many Western politicians hoping for good relations with China, nothing more. She wants her official China policy to be seen as realistic. This means: No excessive dependence, but also not too much mistrust – especially not in a broadly ideological sense, as in the US.
But why is Weidel so tight-lipped about her time in China? Is she worried that this could be politically disadvantageous for her – especially in light of the recent scandal involving the AfD’s MEP Maximilian Krah? Is she worried that her past as a member of a cosmopolitan business elite might not resonate well with AfD voters or party members?
The fact is Weidel’s time in China is a big issue for her Chinese supporters. “Weidel’s unique background and political stance make her a strong contender for German chancellor,” reads a news article on Tencent. “More importantly, she has lived in China for six years.” Her experience in China is Weidel’s unique advantage, as she developed a profound understanding of the Chinese economic model there, the article continues. This perspective “laid the foundation for her later rise in German politics.”
Learning from China, a foundation for Weidel’s success. This line of argument can be found in many articles. Weidel has triggered hype in China, writes a commentator named Bi Dianlong, who has 86,000 followers. Weidel is aware “that the fundamental cause of the current economic recession in Germany is the ‘decoupling’ from China. Only by continuing to cooperate with China can the economies of Germany and Europe be saved.”
It is a hope that can be found in many articles: That a politician has finally stepped onto the political stage who stands for close relations with China. Bi Dianlong writes: “The West needs pragmatic politicians like Weidel who act in the interests of their countries.” Or in that of China. “The Chinese media tends to praise politicians who have a connection to China, who appear to be pro-China and critical of the West,” says a journalist working in state media who spoke to Table.Briefings about the phenomenon, but wishes to remain anonymous. “Many people are swayed by one-sided media reports and the labels attributed to her, which leads to blind sympathy for her.”
Many authors explicitly praise Weidel’s “pragmatic” political stances. “The Internet in China is a brown soup,” says Maxine Zhou. In a country where censorship is omnipresent, people prefer to discuss international political figures. “Chinese people actually really enjoy talking about politics,” says Maxine Zhou. “As this is difficult in China, they just talk about foreign politicians.” And this is probably one of the reasons for the fascination with the blonde German politician. Here it is allowed to discuss, speculate and even openly express controversial opinions. Weidel is much better known than comparable international politicians such as Giorgia Meloni or Marine Le Pen. One reason for this is probably that she is considered very attractive in China.
Many authors believe Weidel has a good chance of becoming chancellor. Comments under the articles and opinion pieces accompany this enthusiastically: “Support Weidel. I hope she can bring some sunshine and fresh air to the lifeless German political scene, just as her beauty brings a breath of fresh air.” Another wrote: “I hope she gets elected. With the experiences she gained in China, she will govern Germany with efficiency and decisiveness for the benefit of mankind.”
There are also numerous AfD and Alice Weidel accounts on video platforms such as Bilibili, which are not official AfD channels, but often repost their content. On Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote in English, enthusiasm for Weidel is most noticeable, with the fan culture sometimes taking on grotesque forms. There are slideshows with childhood photos and snapshots with Weidel’s wife Sarah Bossard. Her sexual orientation is generally nothing that would disqualify her in the eyes of Chinese users. At least in the eyes of younger social media users. Weidel’s sexuality is very rarely mentioned in official articles.
One particularly obscure account from Shaanxi province posts manga drawings of Weidel and Höcke and self-made dolls that are supposed to represent Weidel. Not everyone is that obsessive, of course. But Weidel is a familiar name to the Chinese, especially the young ones. It’s a bit like German youths discussing upheavals and appointments within the Chinese politburo on TikTok – which is actually hard to imagine.
However, China’s social media channels certainly contain a lot of criticism of Weidel and the AfD. “Some Chinese should not be brainwashed into thinking Weidel is pro-Chinese just because she lived in China for a few years,” wrote user Momo on February 9 in a discussion on Xiaohongshu about the German migration-heavy election campaign. Thomas Derksen, alias 阿福Thomas, probably the best-known German influencer in China, also felt compelled by Weidel’s popularity to join the discussion – even though he otherwise explicitly describes himself as non-political. In a Q&A video, he draws attention to Weidel’s grandfather Hans Weidel, who was a military judge and member of the Nazi-SS during the Third Reich. It could be seen as a warning of what could still come.
Sinolytics is a research-based business consultancy entirely focused on China. It advises European companies on their strategic orientation and specific business activities in the People’s Republic.
China was one of over 60 countries to sign a non-binding declaration at the international AI summit in Paris. According to the declaration, the goal is to ensure that artificial intelligence is used in an international framework that is “open, inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure and trustworthy” and sustainable for people and the planet.
In the run-up to the summit, China’s delegate Zhang Guoqing announced that China was willing to work with other countries to promote AI development and ensure its safety. His country wants to “share achievements in the field of artificial intelligence,” said the special representative of President Xi Jinping, according to the Chinese news agency Xinhua.
US Vice President Vance indirectly criticized China during a speech to heads of state and government. “From CCTV to 5G equipment, we’re all familiar with cheap tech in the marketplace that’s been heavily subsidized and exported by authoritarian regimes,” said Vance. Without explicitly naming China, the US politician warned against partnering with authoritarian regimes. “Partnering with them means chaining your nation to an authoritarian master that seeks to infiltrate, dig in and seize your information infrastructure.” Countries that did not sign the summit declaration included the US and the UK.
The AI Action Summit in Paris is the third in a series of international AI summits that began with the Bletchley Park Summit in the UK in November 2023 and continued with the Seoul AI Summit in South Korea in May 2024. lp/rtr
Asia pays a visit to tigers: The mascots Binbin (滨滨) and Nini (妮妮) accompany the Winter Asian Games in Harbin these days. Until February 14, over 1,200 athletes will be competing for medals in the competitions in northern China. Xi Jinping personally opened the Winter Games a few days ago, Binbin and Nini walked in together with the Chinese delegation. On social media, they steal the show from many athletes. Their namesakes – two genuine Siberian tigers from Harbin’s zoo – are certainly not as cuddly as the two of them.
While Alice Weidel is surprisingly quiet in Germany about the fact that she lived in China, speaks Chinese and wrote her doctoral thesis on the Chinese pension system, this is precisely why she enjoys a career of her own in the People’s Republic – as an internet star and darling of the state media.
There, the election frontrunner for the far-right AfD is praised for her supposedly positive stance towards the People’s Republic and how she combines the “wisdom of East and West.” There is even manga fan art of her circulating on social networks. Many also see Weidel as the embodiment of the “Iron Lady” – a determined, uncompromising politician. Meanwhile, her popularity enables young Chinese people in particular to engage in controversial discussions about politics – something that would quickly get them into trouble if it were about their own politicians.
In today’s issue, we shed light on this bizarre and even disturbing phenomenon for you – because the hype about Weidel says a lot about contemporary China and about what people dare and dare not say.
In China, 阿丽丝-魏德尔 (Ālìsī Wèidé’ěr) is a star. “My uncle called me the other day and excitedly asked if she would be Germany’s new chancellor,” says a Chinese IT student in Berlin, who does not want her name to be published and wants to be called Maxine Zhou here. “She perfectly fits the nationalistic and strict image of a politician, which is one of the favorite types of conservative Chinese.” In fact, the election frontrunner for the far-right AfD is often called 铁娘子 (tieniangzi) “Iron Lady” in China. However, this term is used excessively – even Angela Merkel is sometimes referred to in this way. “I think there is a fascination with the ‘Iron Lady’ in China because this type of woman was always praised in communist propaganda,” says Maxine Zhou.
A search for Alice Weidel’s name in the Chinese search engine Baidu returns countless hits. A random test shows: All articles are positive – with a tendency to gush. “With her resolute political stance, outstanding rhetorical skills and unique personal charm, she has won the support of many voters,” praises the military publication of China.com, a state-associated news portal. “Who is currently the most popular female politician in European politics?” asks a Chinese-language online publication called 51.Canada. The website is aimed at Canada’s large Chinese community, which is also a popular immigration destination for Chinese politicians and officials. “Without a doubt, it is the German politician Alice Weidel. (…) Her charismatic and outspoken personality, as well as her background of having lived in China, have immediately earned her numerous fans in China.”
Alice Weidel speaks surprisingly rarely about her connection with China. According to media reports, she spent six years in the country. She worked in Shanghai and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for companies such as Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse and Allianz. Her press office did not respond to a corresponding inquiry. She reportedly also speaks good Chinese. Her doctoral thesis was on the “Pension System of the People’s Republic of China.” Subtitle: Reform options from a regulatory theory perspective to increase risk resistance. The thesis was awarded “magna cum laude” in 2011. Plagiarism hunters were unable to prove any serious violations. All of this should make Weidel a China expert in the public eye, or at least in the AfD’s PR efforts. But it seems that the decision has been made to make little mention of this connection.
A delegation trip to China in the summer of 2023 was deliberately not labeled as a “return” but as an “excellent first step.” It was said that Weidel was just one of many Western politicians hoping for good relations with China, nothing more. She wants her official China policy to be seen as realistic. This means: No excessive dependence, but also not too much mistrust – especially not in a broadly ideological sense, as in the US.
But why is Weidel so tight-lipped about her time in China? Is she worried that this could be politically disadvantageous for her – especially in light of the recent scandal involving the AfD’s MEP Maximilian Krah? Is she worried that her past as a member of a cosmopolitan business elite might not resonate well with AfD voters or party members?
The fact is Weidel’s time in China is a big issue for her Chinese supporters. “Weidel’s unique background and political stance make her a strong contender for German chancellor,” reads a news article on Tencent. “More importantly, she has lived in China for six years.” Her experience in China is Weidel’s unique advantage, as she developed a profound understanding of the Chinese economic model there, the article continues. This perspective “laid the foundation for her later rise in German politics.”
Learning from China, a foundation for Weidel’s success. This line of argument can be found in many articles. Weidel has triggered hype in China, writes a commentator named Bi Dianlong, who has 86,000 followers. Weidel is aware “that the fundamental cause of the current economic recession in Germany is the ‘decoupling’ from China. Only by continuing to cooperate with China can the economies of Germany and Europe be saved.”
It is a hope that can be found in many articles: That a politician has finally stepped onto the political stage who stands for close relations with China. Bi Dianlong writes: “The West needs pragmatic politicians like Weidel who act in the interests of their countries.” Or in that of China. “The Chinese media tends to praise politicians who have a connection to China, who appear to be pro-China and critical of the West,” says a journalist working in state media who spoke to Table.Briefings about the phenomenon, but wishes to remain anonymous. “Many people are swayed by one-sided media reports and the labels attributed to her, which leads to blind sympathy for her.”
Many authors explicitly praise Weidel’s “pragmatic” political stances. “The Internet in China is a brown soup,” says Maxine Zhou. In a country where censorship is omnipresent, people prefer to discuss international political figures. “Chinese people actually really enjoy talking about politics,” says Maxine Zhou. “As this is difficult in China, they just talk about foreign politicians.” And this is probably one of the reasons for the fascination with the blonde German politician. Here it is allowed to discuss, speculate and even openly express controversial opinions. Weidel is much better known than comparable international politicians such as Giorgia Meloni or Marine Le Pen. One reason for this is probably that she is considered very attractive in China.
Many authors believe Weidel has a good chance of becoming chancellor. Comments under the articles and opinion pieces accompany this enthusiastically: “Support Weidel. I hope she can bring some sunshine and fresh air to the lifeless German political scene, just as her beauty brings a breath of fresh air.” Another wrote: “I hope she gets elected. With the experiences she gained in China, she will govern Germany with efficiency and decisiveness for the benefit of mankind.”
There are also numerous AfD and Alice Weidel accounts on video platforms such as Bilibili, which are not official AfD channels, but often repost their content. On Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote in English, enthusiasm for Weidel is most noticeable, with the fan culture sometimes taking on grotesque forms. There are slideshows with childhood photos and snapshots with Weidel’s wife Sarah Bossard. Her sexual orientation is generally nothing that would disqualify her in the eyes of Chinese users. At least in the eyes of younger social media users. Weidel’s sexuality is very rarely mentioned in official articles.
One particularly obscure account from Shaanxi province posts manga drawings of Weidel and Höcke and self-made dolls that are supposed to represent Weidel. Not everyone is that obsessive, of course. But Weidel is a familiar name to the Chinese, especially the young ones. It’s a bit like German youths discussing upheavals and appointments within the Chinese politburo on TikTok – which is actually hard to imagine.
However, China’s social media channels certainly contain a lot of criticism of Weidel and the AfD. “Some Chinese should not be brainwashed into thinking Weidel is pro-Chinese just because she lived in China for a few years,” wrote user Momo on February 9 in a discussion on Xiaohongshu about the German migration-heavy election campaign. Thomas Derksen, alias 阿福Thomas, probably the best-known German influencer in China, also felt compelled by Weidel’s popularity to join the discussion – even though he otherwise explicitly describes himself as non-political. In a Q&A video, he draws attention to Weidel’s grandfather Hans Weidel, who was a military judge and member of the Nazi-SS during the Third Reich. It could be seen as a warning of what could still come.
Sinolytics is a research-based business consultancy entirely focused on China. It advises European companies on their strategic orientation and specific business activities in the People’s Republic.
China was one of over 60 countries to sign a non-binding declaration at the international AI summit in Paris. According to the declaration, the goal is to ensure that artificial intelligence is used in an international framework that is “open, inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure and trustworthy” and sustainable for people and the planet.
In the run-up to the summit, China’s delegate Zhang Guoqing announced that China was willing to work with other countries to promote AI development and ensure its safety. His country wants to “share achievements in the field of artificial intelligence,” said the special representative of President Xi Jinping, according to the Chinese news agency Xinhua.
US Vice President Vance indirectly criticized China during a speech to heads of state and government. “From CCTV to 5G equipment, we’re all familiar with cheap tech in the marketplace that’s been heavily subsidized and exported by authoritarian regimes,” said Vance. Without explicitly naming China, the US politician warned against partnering with authoritarian regimes. “Partnering with them means chaining your nation to an authoritarian master that seeks to infiltrate, dig in and seize your information infrastructure.” Countries that did not sign the summit declaration included the US and the UK.
The AI Action Summit in Paris is the third in a series of international AI summits that began with the Bletchley Park Summit in the UK in November 2023 and continued with the Seoul AI Summit in South Korea in May 2024. lp/rtr
Asia pays a visit to tigers: The mascots Binbin (滨滨) and Nini (妮妮) accompany the Winter Asian Games in Harbin these days. Until February 14, over 1,200 athletes will be competing for medals in the competitions in northern China. Xi Jinping personally opened the Winter Games a few days ago, Binbin and Nini walked in together with the Chinese delegation. On social media, they steal the show from many athletes. Their namesakes – two genuine Siberian tigers from Harbin’s zoo – are certainly not as cuddly as the two of them.
