After being discharged at short notice, Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) wants to achieve a new balance in relations with China. Lindner said in the news podcast of the news portal “The Pioneer” that it was about “a self-confident and realistic approach to China” and “a less velvet-pawed appearance” than the previous governments had shown. “We won’t let our liberal values be bought for good business.”
According to the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Chinese Ministry of Finance asked at the weekend to postpone the talks planned for May 10 due to scheduling reasons. The visit was originally intended to prepare for the German-Chinese government consultations and a high-level financial dialogue. The meeting in Beijing is said to be rescheduled at a later date.
The FDP leader told the news portal that those who only rely on economic relationships lose a piece of the civilizing mission. “On the other hand, if you only argue with conviction, you won’t make a difference. We need a better balance than in the past, when we looked too much at the economy.” His priorities are clear: “When values come into tension, then the commitment to international law is central.” However, Lindner rejected a decoupling of the German economy from the Chinese market: “Despite our systemic rivalry, it would be naïve for our economic development to believe that we could simply decouple ourselves.”
It is unclear whether the cancellation is also related to China’s relationship with Lindner and its FDP. In March, Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger (FDP) traveled to Taiwan, causing displeasure in Beijing. Lindner himself recently criticized China’s position on the Russian war against Ukraine and also advocated openly addressing human rights issues.
