Opposition: Merz criticizes the timing of Scholz’s trip to China
opposition
Merz criticizes the timing of Scholz’s trip to China
CDU leader Friedrich Merz speaks in the Bundestag, behind him sits Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). photo
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Shortly after the controversial port deal, there was criticism of the chancellor’s travel plans. China will “exploit his visit next week for propaganda purposes,” warns Friedrich Merz.
CDU boss Friedrich Merz has criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s (SPD) planned trip to China and again called for a review of Germany’s relationship with the country. “He couldn’t drive at a worse time,” he told the “Augsburger Allgemeine” with a view to Scholz’ trip next Friday.
In view of the decision of federal government Regarding a Chinese entry into a container terminal in the port of Hamburg, Merz said that the chancellor apparently still believes in the theory of change through trade. “He lacks the willingness to reassess the risks to which we are exposed,” criticized the Union faction leader.
“And now, of all times, he’s flying to Chinaa week after this Communist Party convention, where open threats of military force against Taiwan were made and Xi Jinping’s predecessor was taken from the hall in full view of the world public.”
Merz warns against Chinese propaganda
The Chinese government will exploit the chancellor’s visit “together with the gift of further participation in the port as confirmation of their course for propaganda purposes,” warned Merz.
He pointed out that the coalition itself had announced a new China strategy for the spring. “It would have been right to only travel to China afterwards. The war against Ukraine and China’s unilateral side in favor of Russia make it even more urgent to review our relationship with China,” he stressed. “The turning point also includes a new look at China.”
Instead, the Chinese Communist Party “now has a complete overview of trade flows in Europe through its holdings in European ports.” With a view to resistance within the traffic light government, he said: “Scholz’s lonely decision was a serious strategic mistake.”
