A senior lawmaker from Germany's Social Democrats, a junior partner in Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition government, called for a reassessment of Germany's China policy on Saturday after Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul postponed a trip to Beijing.
Wadephul, a member of Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), canceled his visit on Friday after Beijing confirmed only one of his requested meetings, signaling growing tensions over trade and security issues.
"The sudden cancellation of the trip to China does not bode well for improving the strained German-Chinese relations," said Adis Ahmetovic, foreign policy spokesperson for the Social Democrats (SDP). "We need to rethink Germany's China strategy. Now, more than ever, we need a proactive, strategic foreign policy that prioritizes dialogue, clarity, and long-term interests."
Germany is Europe's largest economy, and China is both its biggest trading partner and the largest economy in Asia.
Earlier this week, Wadephul told Reuters he planned to urge China to ease export restrictions on rare earths and semiconductors during his trip, which was set to begin on Sunday. He also emphasized the importance of fair trade as a foundation for strong relations.
In a strategy on China adopted in 2023, Berlin called for "de-risking" the economic relationship, describing Beijing as a "partner, competitor, and systemic rival."
China supplies Germany with crucial components like rare earths and chips, which have faced significant bottlenecks amid escalating global trade tensions.
"Direct dialogue with China is particularly crucial in this phase of global tension," Ahmetovic remarked, stressing the need to deepen discussions "especially on issues of peace, security, the economy, trade, and human rights."
Juergen Hardt, foreign policy spokesperson for the CDU, noted that China was using trade policy to exert pressure, and supported Wadephul's decision to postpone the trip.
"The German government is not participating in this game," he said, adding that Germany still values good and fair relations with Beijing.
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