Criticism of the trip – Scholz promises a “new approach” to China

Date:

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz left on Thursday for the most controversial state visit of his tenure to date. Despite massive criticism from Chinese dissidents and the World Uyghur Congress, the SPD politician wants to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang. It is the wrong time even for his government partners.

In an open letter, 186 dissidents and other critical intellectuals from China asked Scholz to cancel his trip to Beijing. It appeals to the consciences of people in Germany and around the world to raise their voices: “Mr. Scholz, please don’t travel to China,” according to the letter from digital media company Table.Media. Today’s China is “not just a centralized state”, but is slowly sliding into a “dictatorship based on the National Socialist model”. The letter’s signatories accused Chinese leaders of numerous human rights violations, including in the autonomous regions of Xinjiang, Tibet and Inner Mongolia, and also complained of “genocide”.

Scholz wants to tackle “difficult problems”.
Scholz assured before his departure that he would now have a “new approach” to leadership in Beijing. He will also tackle “difficult problems”. “Today’s China is no longer the same as it was five or ten years ago. It is clear: as China changes, the way we interact with China must also change.”

The “difficult issues” the German wants to tackle: “This includes, for example, respect for civil and political freedoms and the rights of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang province.” The United Nations Human Rights Agency accuses Beijing of oppressing the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

Scholz expressed concern about the tense situation around Taiwan and indirectly warned China of an invasion. “Like the United States and many other countries, we have a one-China policy. However, this means that the status quo can only be changed peacefully and by mutual consent.”

Criticism also of delegation from large companies
Due to the strict corona measures in China, the visit will be shorter than any other chancellor’s trip to the world’s most populous country. Scholz will be joined by a business delegation that will consist of a dozen executives, including the CEOs of Volkswagen, BASF, Siemens and Deutsche Bank. This also drew criticism.

The prominent delegation gives the impression that there is still a long way to go to achieve the diversification advocated by industry associations BDI and DIHK – especially as German investment in China hit record levels in the first half of the year, according to the IW. Institute. However, unlike in the past, according to government circles, no diploma signing ceremony is planned for the visit. It’s just not “business as usual”.

Source: Krone

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Share post:

Subscribe

Popular

More like this
Related