Beijing (dpa) – Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck says the German government’s China strategy adopted only last year needs to be revised. “Sooner or later our China strategy will have to be updated,” said the Green politician at a reception at the German embassy in Beijing on Friday.
Two aspects were lacking, said Habeck. The current strategy started “from the status quo, not the horizon”, he said, adding that it was important to think about what relations with China would look like in thirty years’ time. “I say this because I’m sure China has a strategy for where it’s heading, and I believe the USA does too.” What is more, said Habeck, the current strategy was being pursued by the Federal Government alone, but a European approach was required.
“The USA and China are repositioning themselves entirely in the arena of power politics. Russia is attacking Ukraine. So it’s crucial for Europe to stand united.” The China strategy was “a key step for Germany” and was based on a carefully planned approach, said the Vice Chancellor. But it was a German China strategy, he added, and the approaches varied considerably among the different European countries.
Speaking at a meeting with the ambassadors of the EU states in Beijing, Habeck said that in a changing world, these differing approaches had to be interlinked.
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