Be alert to the Dark Famination of China in Germany

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Germany. Paying attention to German public opinion in the past two or three months, the reporter of the Global Times found that a major theme in China -related reports showed the German tangles and unconfidence, that is, "Germany's excessive dependence on China and must reduce dependence on China dependence on China. "". In addition to the media that "get rid of dependence on China", German politics and business circles also have similar statements. On July 3rd, German President Steinmel first emphasized that "China is now and will continue to be an important partner" at a event in Hamburg, but also reminded that "must be kept in mind and don't rely on China." This kind of argument in Germany began with the former US President Trump insisted on "decoupling" with the Chinese economy. It has increased due to the shortage of German -related supplies in the early days of the new crown pneumonia. When the undercurrent of pressure on Hua gradually became veterans, some people in Germany also issued an advice: "Washington's wish does not conform to European interests."

In order to render "Chinese threats", claiming "Merkel is outdated"

"Global Times" reporters in the German report from China found that the so -called "excessive dependence on China" mainly focused on the three major contents. First of all, some public opinion believes that the trade between China and Germany is too close. The recent report of the second report of German TV said that since 2016, China has been the largest trading partner in Germany. In 2021, Sino -German trade reached 245.5 billion euros. Several major German trading partners after China were the Netherlands (206.1 billion euros), the United States (194.1 billion euros), and France (164.4 billion euros). It is reported: "In the early 1990s, Sino -German trade accounted for less than 1%of German GDP, and today it was about 10%." Secondly, it is believed that German companies excessively rely on the Chinese market, especially the automobile manufacturing industry, such as the public The sales of cars in China account for 49%of its total sales, 42%of Audi, 36%in Mercedes -Benz, and 34%in BMW. Bayer, BASF, Siemens and other large companies and many other German invisible champion companies also have similar phenomena. Third, Germany depends on China's supply on raw materials. According to data from the German Industry Federation (BDI), 93.5%of rare earth rely on China, and graphite (90.4%), 铋 (87.1%), magnesium (79.8%) and other raw materials have high dependence.

On June 24, the Central and European trains (Wuhan) opened a new channel to Germany. Picture/Changjiang Daily

These data are rendered and hyped by German media. A German television commented that the close trade relationship between China and Germany is "permanent dependence." The Time Weekly said: "The Germans realized that in addition to relying on Russia's energy, it would be more difficult to get rid of the close economic connection with China." The Frankfurt Report "Goodbye China, Hello Vietnam" is said to be called For many manufacturers in Asia, "better and cheaper" Vietnam seems to be able to replace China.

To understand the thinking of the media, you must also review the source of "reducing dependence theory". In early 2019, the German Industry Federation (BDI), who claims to be "representing 40 industrial industry associations in Germany and about 8 million employees in more than 100,000 companies", has urged their own companies to reduce their dependence on the Chinese market in an important document in an important document. sex. On the one hand, this document that has been drafted in the second half of 2018 emphasizes that "in the foreseeable future, China is still a strong market, the engine of the world economy, and an important sales procurement market for German industry." On the other hand, it requires "Enterprises need to re -evaluate their existence and activities in China. If necessary, the diversification of the supply chain, production base and sales market will minimize dependence on China." When the German industry's most important industrial lobbying organization issued an appeal, it was when the Trump administration continued to create friction for the US -China trade. The BDI file calls China "institutional competitors", which is also the first time that this concept has been proposed in the European Union.

In the view of Berlin's Chinese problem scholar Olewin, in addition to the US factor, the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia has helped this dark. He told a reporter from the Global Times that in early 2020, epidemic prevention materials such as masks and protective clothing were urgent, and important items such as antibiotics could not be produced. At that time, all sectors of Germany had "reflection": whether this exposes Germany's unprecedented dependence on China to China sex? In September of the same year, the German government launched the "Indo -Pacific Policy Guide" to determine that it is necessary to "adjust" a closer strategic relationship with "other Democratic countries in Asia". Create a multi -polarized pressure on China.

In March 2021, China decided to impose sanctions against the European side seriously damage the Chinese sovereignty and interests, malicious dissemination lies and false information, and 4 entities, including the German European Parliament Peter Cofel and Geller, Geller, German anti -China scholar Zheng Guoen (Adrian Zezz), German Mercato China Research Center. These sanctions are often destroyed through various channels to destroy Sino -European relations. For example, Pettekofel has repeatedly demanded "decoupled" in Germany and Europe and China for so -called democratic human rights issues. In an interview with German media recently, he often hangs on his mouth. Main threats "and so on. The Makato China Research Center, which is sanctioned by China, often rendered "China Threat". Affected by it, some German economic and international political research institutions have recently issued a warning of "Germany's excessive dependence on China". German companies with exiting the Chinese market will hurt themselves

After the outbreak of Russia and Ukraine's conflict, some German government officials began to publicly stated that they would reduce dependence on China. According to the German Business Daily, a German strategic document is expected to be officially introduced in the spring of 2023. To this end, the federal government departments and foreign agencies have submitted their respective assessment reports in China in recent months. Some German Ministry of Finance officials said that the "huge dependence" of the German economy to China is "frustrated." Officials from the Ministry of Economic Affairs in May also said that Germany will change the model of dealing with China and is committed to reducing dependence on China. It will also closely examine the application for German companies that intend to invest in China. A person in charge of the Asia -Pacific Department of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims that there is a hidden political influence behind the huge trade amount of Germany and China. "It is by no means a good choice to rely on a market. "".

"Behind the German government to reduce dependence on China, the United States and the European Union factors are critical." A person familiar with the German diplomatic circle told the Global Times reporter that compared with the previous years, the United States has increased pressure on Germany in these years. Germany re -positioning relations with China is consistent with the United States. Some German officials have previously made remarks of "an indispensable partnership with China", but after the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Brills in May this year, the views have changed. According to analysis, this is also related to the lobbying organizations active in Germany with many American backgrounds.

Recently, Germany's "Photo" and "World News" have tied "dependence on China" and "institutional risks" together. The two media belong to the Siplinge Publishing Group, and a major shareholder of the group is KKR, a US private equity fund. This reminds reporters from the author of the author of the "Pseudo -Saint America" ​​last year and German scholar Michel Ruders: "The United States has created a public opinion network that connects the United States in Europe. It is difficult to "break the net" in the US Circle 'countries that do not meet the American narrative and be accepted by European public opinion. "

For some public opinion and politicians, they always declare that "the dependence of Germany's dependence on China is equivalent to China's dependence on Russia. If the serious consequences of Germany's dependence on China will be highlighted." When he recently made a speech at the Foreign Policy Association, he called for "distinguishment" to China. He warned that he should not "confuse China and Russia", but should try to "reduce institutional confrontation in international exchanges."

More than 5,000 companies in Germany have business in China. Most German companies that are optimistic about the Chinese market oppose political intervention economy. The German IFO Institute of Economic Research Institute's survey of 4,000 companies in mid -April this year showed that no industry values ​​the Chinese market than the German automotive industry. Su Yili, manager of the public relations department of Mercedes-Benz Group, said in an interview with the Global Times reporter that the company is increasing its sales share in China, especially luxury models, and no other market can replace the Chinese market.

The title of the press release sent by the German Automobile Accessories Group to reporters on July 8th is "Investment confidence is not diminished, and the establishment of a new factory in China". According to the press release, on the same day, ZF and Shandong Province held a signing ceremony. The German enterprise will invest in construction factories in Rizhao City. The total investment of the project will be 60 million euros. , Thailand, South Korea, the United States, Japan, Vietnam and other countries.

Not only the automotive industry, but also German companies in the fields of machinery manufacturing and chemical industry have also announced that they will expand investment in China. The German machine tool producer Tonguang Group stated that "the company has not reducing China's business or transferred to other countries for strategic considerations." In 2025, it is estimated that "the product of the product in the global market" will be realized in China. Marcus Camisi, a member of the Bazff Group, a Global chemical giant Germany, said at the shareholders' meeting that "abandoning the Chinese market will have a very negative impact." In early June, the chairman of the Chinese EU Chamber of Commerce Woodkeke The latest report produced by the center's joint survey "China Innovation Ecosystem" emphasized that "the enterprise withdrawing from the Chinese market will hurt themselves", "decoupling" is not conducive to the research and development of German enterprise products, and local operations will lose money. The report also said that participating in China's innovation system is the right strategy for many German companies.

Europe and China are "decoupling", which is tantamount to playing fire

"Global Times" reporters discovered during an interview in Germany that whether it is German business personnel or representatives of Chinese institutions, they are optimistic about mutual cooperation in the future. On June 23, the Jiangsu Taicang High -tech Zone, known as the "Hometown of German Enterprises", held an innovation forum in Dussertorf. The issues such as the chain system "" how to view the success of China's new digital business model "and other issues have exchanged questions. The German leader of Germany Shengsiko Technology (Taicang) Co., Ltd. said on the forum: "The Chinese market is still our interests, and it will also create more opportunities for German enterprises." The personnel told reporters that the number of German -funded enterprises in Taicang exceeded 430, of which there were 390 Taicang High -tech Zone, and 32 new German -funded enterprises were added in 2021, with a total investment of 5 billion US dollars. Some friends of German companies said in exchanges with Zhang Yigui that they did not agree with the view of "dependence on China": First of all, in today's globalization, everyone is complementary to work together, and there is no dependence on anyone; second In business talks, everyone takes what they need. All business and transactions have been discussed and confirmed in advance and were protected by law. There is no need to impose some non -commercial labels on enterprises and markets. When the Global Times reporter recently participated in the International Journalist Inspection Troupe held by the National Tourism Administration of Germany, he also heard a lot of positive feedback. For example, Nicholas Fosten, the department manager of a marketing company in Dresden, told reporters: "Our cooperation with China is still not enough. I hope that more Chinese companies will invest in Germany, and I hope that Chinese tourists can come to Germany to travel early ","

"In the final analysis, the power that promotes Germany's" reducing dependence on China mainly comes from the United States. 'Reduced dependencies' although it is different from 'decoupling', it is also very dangerous. "German scholar Ole Vihelm Say. He believes that both Germany and China support the globalization of trade and integrate well into the international division of labor system and the global industrial chain. Therefore, both parties should oppose the views such as "decoupling" or "reducing dependence". Moreover, in addition to cooperation in the field of economic and trade, it is necessary to strengthen cooperation in Germany, China, Europe and China in response to climate crisis and opposition to terrorism.

Recently, the rational voice in Germany has begun to increase. Frankfurt Financial and Management College Horster Rochete said to TV that Germany did not depend on China too much. "What I want to say is that the two parties depend on each other, and we all depend on each other -I think this is not bad." Political scholar Joseph Blam also wrote in the "Business Daily" that since the United States launched a trade war in China, the United States has launched a trade war in China. , Especially since the upgrading of the Russian and Ukraine conflict, Western countries have announced that "the industrial chain must be transferred to countries with similar values." Brahm warned that this anti -globalization tendency that emphasizes ideology and despise economic benefits will bring serious losses to the European economy. In the eyes of many Germans, if Western countries are now "decoupled" with China in accordance with Washington's wish, the inflation rate will further rise, which is tantamount to playing fire and does not meet the interests of Europe itself.

Global Times Special Journalist in Germany Aoki

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