A Tougher Stance On China Is Likely
December 8, 2021–It’s a momentous day for Germany, Europe’s largest economy, as that country replaces Angela Merkel with a new chancellor after 16 years of her leadership in and out of the country.
The Bundestag officially recognized Olaf Scholz as head of the government. Scholz represents the center-left Social-Democratic Party (SDP). This Fall, the party signed an agreement with the Green Party (Greens) and Liberal Democrats (FDP) to rule the country. The coalition deal promises “an innovative alliance” of parties that represent different traditions and perspectives.
50% Off your first digital audiobook.“We can make a contribution to softening political divisions and can initiate new political creativity. In this way, we can modernize society,” the agreement said.
‘Values-Based’ Foreign Policy
The deal puts SDP’s Scholz as the head of government, FDP leader Christian Lindner as head of finance, and the Greens’ Annalena Baerbock as head of foreign policy. Moreover, it prioritizes climate action, a stronger European Union, strategic sovereignty for the EU, and a values-based foreign policy.
“We are determined to make the EU more capable of action and more democratic and are committed to an EU that protects its values and the rule of law both internally and externally and strengthens its ability to act,” the agreement said. “We advocate increased cooperation between the European countries’ national armies.”
According to the agreement, that means fending off disinformation campaigns, maintaining debt sustainability, building up public and private investments, and advancing climate action. It also means working with other democracies and dealing with “systemic competition with authoritarian states and dictatorships.” In the past year, Europe is increasingly advancing its own foreign policy goals and the concept of “strategic sovereignty,” especially since the clumsy U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
In Germany, it’s the first time the three parties have led together. It’s also noteworthy that the coalition puts Merkel’s Christian Democratic Party in a weaker position.
Tougher on China
Significantly, Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s new top diplomat, is starting off her new role with a promise to be tougher on China. In an interview with Spiegel, Baerbock promised to strengthen ties with France and Poland within the European Union.
“It is urgent that the Weimar Triangle be revived – Warsaw, Berlin, and Paris are crucial to Europe,” she said.
Asked about the possibility of renewed “Cold War” competition with Russia and China, Baerbock said the old labels don’t apply to today’s situation.
“I don’t believe in simply applying old categories to new geopolitical developments,” she said. “We are in a systemic rivalry with authoritarian regimes and must make every effort to defend the international rules-based order.”
Many observers see Germany taking a tougher stance with China. In a recent Die Tageszeitung article, Baerbock suggested as much. She indicated Germany’s “eloquent silence” on human rights issues is in the past. The new government would not “gloss over” issues so easily.
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