China downplays tension after German Foreign Minister cancels Beijing trip
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Mr Johann Wadephul was due in Beijing from Oct 26, but he opted not to go after only one of his requested meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was confirmed.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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BEIJING – China urged Germany on Oct 27 to take a long-term view of ties between the world’s second- and third-largest economies, seeking to downplay suggestions of rising tension after German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul postponed his first trip to Beijing.
Mr Wadephul was originally due in the Chinese capital from Oct 26 on the first visit by a minister of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government, but he opted not to travel after only one of his requested meetings was confirmed with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
That prompted a senior German parliamentarian to accuse China of having provoked the cancellation out of a fear of debate.
“China has always viewed and developed its ties with Germany from a strategic and long-term perspective,” said Mr Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry.
“The two sides should respect each other, treat each other as equals and cooperate for win-win results to propel bilateral ties along the right track,” Mr Guo told a press conference on Oct 27.
The “current circumstances” provided further reason for both countries to seek common cause, he added, but gave no details.
Germany is China’s top European trade partner, with two-way trade exceeding US$200 billion (S$259 billion) in 2025, Chinese data shows.
However, neither side has made any official visits since Mr Merz’s Christian Democratic Union party defeated the Social Democratic Party of his predecessor, Mr Olaf Scholz, in polls in 2025.
In comparison, China’s top diplomat has visited Austria, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and Switzerland in 2025.
Mr Wadephul has struck an increasingly tough stance on China since taking office as foreign minister in May.
He has highlighted Beijing’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, its “increasingly aggressive behaviour” in the Indo-Pacific region and its export curbs on rare earths
In doing so, he has gone further than his predecessor Annalena Baerbock, already known for being outspoken, who labelled Chinese President Xi Jinping a “dictator”.
On Oct 24, Ms Agnieszka Brugger, a senior leader of the opposition Greens, said “the cancellation of Foreign Minister Wadephul’s trip to China is only logical and consistent”.
She added: “The list of extremely difficult issues with China, which is a relevant player in many global political issues, is growing ever longer.” REUTERS
