LONDON • Of all European nations, Germany can claim to have a truly special relationship with China. It is Beijing's largest single European trading partner. And while the European Union as a whole records huge deficits with China which last year alone amounted to a whopping €177 billion (S$288 billion), Germany regularly enjoys a substantial surplus. So, if there is one country eager not to offend China, Germany should be that one.
But the opposite appears to be true. For in speech delivered recently at a conference which brought together Europe's top leaders and strategic experts, Germany Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel singled out China not as an economic partner, but as a security concern.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Read the full story and more at $9.90/month
Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month
ST One Digital
$9.90/month
No contract
ST app access on 1 mobile device
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you