On Thursday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that a military escalation between China and Taiwan would be a “worst-case scenario” for the world economy.
Speaking on a visit to China, Baerbock struck a different tone than French President Emmanuel Macron, who advised the European Union last week not to become “caught up in crises that are not ours” concerning Taiwan.
“Germany and the European Union are economically vulnerable, which means that we cannot be indifferent to the tensions in the Taiwan Strait,” Baerbock stated in an audio recording her government gave during a layover in Tianjin, China.
Macron’s remarks were criticized in the US and Europe as weak on Taiwan and a gift to Beijing’s agenda of eroding transatlantic solidarity.
As a result, many EU members hope Baerbock’s first China trip will create a clear and united EU policy on China.
Baerbock said that 50% of world commerce and 70% of semiconductors transit over the Taiwan Strait; therefore, the unrestricted passage is in our economic interest.
“A military escalation in the Taiwan Strait… would be a worst-case scenario globally and affect us as one of the biggest industrial nations in particular,” she added of Germany, the EU’s largest economy.
After Macron’s words signaled a breach in the EU’s attitude to the growing superpower, Baerbock’s first destination on a China tour was Tianjin.
Even without Macron’s words, Baerbock’s visit would have been sensitive since he is more hawkish on China than German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and is formulating a China policy to reduce German dependency on trade with Beijing.
Baerbock will meet Qin Gang and China’s senior diplomat Wang Yi during her two-day trip.
