Germany’s China policy has been criticized by a leading voice within the ruling conservative bloc, highlighting a growing concern over the nation’s economic vulnerabilities and a perceived lack of decisive action from the government. Norbert Röttgen, Deputy Parliamentary Group Chairman of the CDU/CSU faction in the Bundestag, asserted that while Germany possesses numerous strategic plans regarding China, a coherent and assertive political strategy is sorely lacking.
Röttgen’s remarks, delivered in an interview with “Welt am Sonntag” directly accuse the government of failing to address China’s long-stated intention to leverage economic dependencies as geopolitical pressure points. He argued that Beijing, emboldened by its economic strength, now feels empowered to act on this strategy.
The extent of Germany’s reliance on China, both as a vital export market and a critical supplier of essential raw materials ranging from pharmaceuticals to rare earth minerals, poses an “intolerable” risk to national sovereignty, Röttgen stated. He lamented the absence of meaningful progress from successive administrations to mitigate this dependence. “The end of this path is drawing dangerously close” he warned.
Drawing a parallel with Japan’s proactive approach, Röttgen suggested Germany should emulate the nation’s investments in resource exploration outside of China, intensified recycling efforts and reduction in dependency from 90% to 60%. He emphasized that Germany’s own strategic documents already outline necessary steps – bolstering domestic innovation, utilizing domestic resources, diversifying markets and cultivating new growth sectors – but these initiatives require forceful and sustained implementation, even if it entails considerable financial investment. “Security and independence are investments, not free goods” he declared.
Röttgen pointed out that Germany and Europe are themselves endowed with reserves of rare earth minerals, yet the nation demonstrably prioritizes procurement from China, knowingly increasing its susceptibility to coercion. Fully exploiting these domestic resources would necessitate a return to mining operations, requiring expertise and societal acceptance – elements currently absent.
The recent cancellation of Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul’s planned trip to China was particularly telling, according to Röttgen. He indicated the initiative was effectively vetoed by Beijing, demonstrating a willingness to penalize German officials for expressing views that are inconvenient to the Chinese government. “The decision wasn’s made in Berlin; it was made in Beijing” he stated.
This action, Röttgen concluded, represents Beijing’s attempt to present Germany with a stark choice: acquiescence or strained relations. He characterized this as a miscalculation on China’s part, reflecting a view that Germany is economically and politically vulnerable enough to withstand pressure. “It’s a mistake, but unfortunately, it’s the current perception in Beijing”.