SHANGHAI - China and Germany are moving toward a closer and friendlier
partnership, a process that seemed highly unlikely just three years ago and
which could provide Beijing with an influential ally on the world stage.
In mid-July, German Chancellor Angela Merkel paid a four-day visit to China to
boost economic and political ties; this was her fourth trip since taking office
in 2005. Notably, German President Horst Koehler paid a state visit to China
two months ago.
Merkel's delegation, which included cabinet ministers and bussinesspeople,
secured contracts worth billions of euros for
leading German corporations such as Siemens, Daimler Benz, BASF and Volkswagen.
The countries also signed a joint communique, their second since they
established formal diplomatic relations in 1972.
When Merkel assumed office in November 2005, Beijing feared her hardline policy
would seriously challenge the traditionally friendly Sino-German relationship.
During her first China visit as head of government in September 2007, she
talked openly about the importance of human rights and Chinese leaders did not
take kindly to being lectured to.
More upsetting for Beijing was that shortly after returning home form China,
Merkel met the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader whom Beijing
considers a separatist. Then, a month later, in October 2007, Merkel's ruling
coalition issued a report on its Asia strategy in which a new German-China
policy was outlined.
It stressed that Germany should balance its foreign policies among big Asian
countries, which signaled that Merkel would attach greater importance to
Germany's relations with countries such as Japan and India.
The report said that German partnerships could only be maintained when they
were based on shared values and ideas. As such, Germany should form closer
relations with democratic states, especially Japan, India, South Korea and
Australia. Although seeing a rising China as a window of opportunity for
Germany, the report considered China as more of a challenge.
In early 2008, when the torch for the Beijing Summer Olympic Games was making
its way through Europe, members of the Free Tibet movement - which wants
independence for Tibet from China - were very active in Germany trying to
sabotage the torch relay. There were reports that they were supported
financially and politically by German non-governmental organizations and even
politicians.
In Beijing's view, such antagonism toward China in German civil society was at
least acquiesced, if not encouraged, by the German government on the pretext
that Germany was a democratic and free society. All the same, in February 2008,
Merkel, in a telephone conversation with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, had
promised that her administration would actively adhere to the "one China"
policy, that is, not support independence for Tibet.
Then, shortly after the conclusion of the Beijing Olympics, the global
financial crisis broke in the United States and quickly spread around the
world, with Europe hit hard. In October 2008, Merkel visited China on the
sidelines of an Asia-Europe summit in Beijing. Her visit signaled that
China-Germany relations had started to improve.
That improvement has continued, with Wen saying Merkel's recent visit had
"historical significance". The use of these words is important as they signify
that major change(s) are underway. With these words, Chinese leaders expect
China-Germany ties to become not only closer but also more stable than ever
before, so that they evolve into a truly strategic partnership.
In other words, Chinese leaders hope the partnership will be based not only on
economic mutual benefit but also on political trust and strategic dependence,
beyond quarrels over ideological differences.
However, judging from the composition of Merkel's delegation, Berlin is still
more focused on economic matters. In one sense this is understandable as China
is the biggest foreign market for Germany, and at the same time Germany is the
biggest economic partner of China in Europe.
Overall, German exports to China amounted to 36.5 billion euros (US$46.2
billion) last year, and imports totaled 55.5 billion euros, according to the
German Federal Statistics Office. In the same year, Germany's total exports
dropped 18% due to the global economic slump, while its exports to China
climbed 7%, according to the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
Siemens, an electronics and engineering giant that is a bellwether for the
global and German economies, said on Thursday that quarterly profits rose 9% to
1.44 billion euros (US$1.38 billion), in part "because of soaring sales in
countries like China and India", the New York Times reported.
Volkswagen, the largest carmaker in Europe, said net profit rose more than
fivefold to 1.35 billion euros, fueled by a 45% surge in sales to Asia.
Volkswagen saw huge gains in China, where unit sales rose 46% to 951,000
vehicles in the first six months of 2010. China now surpasses Germany, where
sales fell 16% to 533,000 vehicles, as VW's largest market. A year ago, sales
in the two countries were almost even.
The importance of China to Germany is clear, and significantly Merkel refrained
from lecturing her Chinese hosts on the importance of human rights, although
she did touch on the topic in a speech to students at the Central Party School,
the Chinese Communist Party's top training center for senior officials headed
by Vice President Xi Jinping.
For Beijing, Merkel not bringing up the topics of human rights, good governance
and democracy in meetings with Chinese leaders is a constructive attitude
toward building a stable and pragmatic partnership. These topics can be
addressed in the annual human-rights dialogue between the two countries.
It is interesting to note that Merkel visited Xi'an, the capital of Shanxi
province in northwest China that was the national capital of several dynasties,
including the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). This city, like Qufu in east Shandong
province - the home town of Confucius - is undoubtedly a traditional culture
center and in Chinese eyes, Merkel, by going to Xi'an, was showing her respect
for Chinese culture. In other words, at least culturally, Berlin is now willing
to consider China as an equal partner.
Merkel also had some kind words, "We must learn to understand China, its great
culture and huge potential." This indicates that she is open to discussing
issues beyond bilateral ties with China, such as climate change, energy and the
world financial order.
A study on European Union-China relations by the European Council on Foreign
Relations, an influential think-tank, has suggested that the members of the
European Union should unite internally and with other powers, especially the
US, to force China to yield to the West on issues such as human rights, trade
protection, intellectual property rights and so on.
The report serves evidence that some Europeans still look at China with
antagonism and hostility. Ideological differences between China and Europe
become their cheap weapon to fire against China and geo-economic conflicts are
a useful excuse to criticize China.
From this perspective alone, China's relations with the EU and its member
states could and should be strengthened to become more stable and constructive.
In this regard, Germany could prove an important ally.
Dr Jian Junbo is assistant professor of the Institute of International
Studies at Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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