德外長訪華回國 不再天真 放棄貿易促轉變

 

德外長聲稱：不再“天真”，放棄這項對華政策

楊蓉 [e-mail] 2023-04-20  觀察者網

近日結束訪華的德國外交部長貝爾伯克19日聲稱，德國不希望在對華政策上“重蹈覆轍”，將放棄試圖“以貿易促轉變”的“天真想法”。不過，她同時強調，與中國合作並保持經濟聯係非常重要。

據路透社報道，貝爾伯克當天在聯邦議院（議會下院）接受質詢時談到最近的中國之行，形容此訪“某些部分不止是令人震驚”。報道說，盡管外長沒有詳細說明具體細節，但她聲稱中國變得對外界“更具攻擊性”。

貝爾伯克重申了歐盟內部的說法，即中國是德國的競爭對手、合作夥伴以及係統性對手。但她同時補充稱，中國之行給她的印象是，“（中國作為）競爭對手的一麵正在增加”。

路透社報道截圖

貝爾伯克聲稱，德國政府希望繼續與中國合作，但不希望在對華關係上繼續“重蹈覆轍”。路透社稱，這指的是德國長期以來“以貿易促轉變”（Wandel durch Handel）的對華政策，即希望通過加強貿易連結對中國施加政治影響。

另據德國《明鏡周刊》19日報道，盡管貝爾伯克認為德國不應繼續“天真”，但她同時承認中國仍然是德國最大的貿易夥伴，保持良好雙邊經濟關係非常重要。“我們不能繞過中國。”她明確表示，德國政府希望“將風險降到最低”，但這並不代表“與中國脫鉤”。

貝爾伯克此次訪問，正值德國乃至歐洲調整對華政策、對中國認識進一步加深之際。德國外交部當前正在主導製定新的對華戰略，從已經披露的內容來看，相關草案要求德國在對華外交時采取更加強硬的立場，以貝爾伯克為首的官員一直警告德國企業“與中國做生意時要更謹慎”。

然而，這份“中國戰略”也因“過於嚴厲”而難以推進。《紐約時報》12日報道指出，德國經濟兩大“引擎”——大眾汽車和化工公司巴斯夫正在擴大對華投資。不少德企高管們表示，在華投資和合作對其企業在歐洲的蓬勃發展而言至關重要。德國《明鏡》周刊此前認為，貝爾伯克此行給了德國外交部調整的機會，最終文件可將有關收獲寫入。

針對中德關係，國務委員兼外長秦剛14日曾在第六輪中德外交與安全戰略對話後的記者會上指出，發展好中德雙邊關係，關鍵在於開展全方位交流，增進戰略互信，避免戰略誤判。中德是獨立國家，相互認知和交往也應是獨立自主的。中德是夥伴不是對手，德方製定涉華戰略文件時應從中德兩國和兩國人民的切身利益和福祉出發，作出正確的政治選擇。中德要合作不要對抗，無論零和對抗還是集團對抗都要不得。

秦剛表示，經貿合作是兩國關係的壓艙石，互利共贏是中德務實合作的“底色”。中德在產供鏈上的依存關係，是經濟全球化的必然結果，也是市場規則下的最優選擇。隻要雙方均保持開放，就沒有必要擔心所謂的“依賴”。中德經貿額長期占中歐經貿總額近3成，但我們從未擔心對德“過度依賴”，也從不認為這會給中國帶來什麽“風險”。人為給正常的經貿合作踩刹車，將適得其反、得不償失。

 

Germany's Baerbock says parts of China trip 'shocking'

https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-baerbock-says-parts-of-china-trip-shocking/a-65375303 

2023-04-20 

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Germany should continue close ties to China but "not be naive" and avoid repeating mistakes like its "change through trade" policy toward Russia.

https://p.dw.com/p/4QJ6N 

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has described parts of her recent trip to China as "more than shocking." The minister did not elaborate on specifics, but the comment was made after she noted that China has become more repressive internally and aggressive externally.

 

Baerbock made the remarks addressing the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament, on Wednesday.

She said China has been seen as a trade partner, competitor and a systemic rival to Germany, but her impression is now "that the systemic rivals aspect is increasing more and more."

She also stressed the need to avoid repeating past mistakes, like the policy of "change through trade," which Berlin previously hoped would achieve political transition in authoritarian regimes like Russia.   

German FM urges China to push Russia to end Ukraine war

Germany 'should not be naive'

Baerbock also underlined the importance of China for Germany.

"We cannot get around China," she clarified, adding that the economic relations between the two countries are "good and important."

It is not a matter of "decoupling ourselves from China," but rather "minimizing our risks."

China is Germany's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade amounting to nearly €300 billion ($320 billion) last year.

Bilateral cooperation should continue, but Germany "should not be naive" and "not repeat mistakes again," Baerbock said.

Germany is currently reliant on the Asian country for the supply of some rare earths and other minerals.

And Berlin wants German businesses to diversify their supply chains to avoid dependencies on critical goods.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government is also formulating a new China strategy  to reduce reliance on the Asian giant.

As part of the government's planned China strategy, Baerbock said Wednesday, "we must safeguard freedom and the rule of law in the long term" and "stand up for the international order with a clear stance."

What is at stake here is "the freedom, prosperity and security of all of us," the minister stressed.

How reassuring is China's pledge not to send arms to Russia?

Clear stance on Taiwan?

Baerbock was in China last week for a three-day trip, where she held talks with her counterpart Qin Gang, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and Wang Yi, the country's top foreign policy official.

Her visit came amid increased tensions in the Taiwan Strait and in the wake of Beijing's ever-deepening ties to Moscow since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

During the trip, Baerbock said any change to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait using force would be unacceptable.

Beijing views self-ruled Taiwan as a Chinese province and has vowed to reunite it with the mainland, even by using force if necessary.

Baerbock's visit came on the heels of a similar trip made by French President Emmanuel Macron, who irked many in the West by saying that the EU should find its own course on China and Taiwan and not blindly follow the US.

sri/jcg (Reuters, AFP, dpa)