Germany’s foreign minister sharply criticizes China after Beijing visit

BERLIN (AA) - German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock sharply criticized China on Wednesday, arguing that Beijing is pursuing an “aggressive” foreign policy, and taking “repressive” actions at home.

Addressing lawmakers in the parliament, three days after her visit to Beijing, Baerbock said that while China remains Germany’s biggest trading partner, it is also a competitor and a systemic rival of the Western democracies.

“Unfortunately, my impression was that the aspect of systemic rivalry is increasing more and more. Not only because China is acting more offensive and aggressive abroad, but also becoming more repressive at home,” she said.

She also said that some of these were "really more than shocking” in some cases.

Baerbock disclosed that during her two-day China visit, she did not use her mobile phones, and had to keep them locked in a small suitcase, due to security concerns.

The minister underlined that Germany will rebalance its relations with China, in line with the EU’s new strategy toward this country, and reduce unilateral dependencies.

“We would like to cooperate with China, wherever it is possible. But we don’t want to repeat past mistakes. We don’t want to be naive and believe that change would come through trade,” she said.

Baerbock said Germany has no interest in economic decoupling but will look at the risks of unilateral dependencies, and de-risk its relations with China.

“We do not want to decouple from China. But as China is taking steps for its security, we will also do the same, and minimize our risks,” she said.

Baerbock, whose Green party is a junior partner in the coalition government, has long been an outspoken critic of China and repeatedly criticized Beijing’s foreign and domestic policies, and its treatment of Uyghurs.