It will finally happen: from Sunday (07/12/2025) until Wednesday next week, German Foreign Minister Johan Wadevoll will travel to China. There is a lot that can be discussed with the Chinese government. But above all, Wadiful hopes the atmosphere is right, as it has left a lot to be desired recently.
The Christian Democratic politician had already planned to visit the Asian superpower on October 26, but on the 24th of that month the visit was canceled at the last minute. According to rumors in Berlin’s political circles, Wadfall did not find enough high-ranking interlocutors, making the trip pointless.
A German foreign minister with whom almost no one wants to talk? Some observers spoke of a diplomatic scandal, especially since German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has not yet planned his inaugural visit to China.
Aggressive behavior by China
The background to the somewhat cold relationship between Germany and China was undoubtedly some critical statements made by Wadfall before the visit. Prior to his trips to Japan and Indonesia, the Secretary of State publicly condemned on several occasions China’s “increasing aggressive actions” in the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, and South China Sea.
Foreign Ministry spokesman in Beijing, Mao Ning, immediately warned the CDU politician against continuing to “incite confrontation and raise tensions.” Soon after, the Chinese turned their backs on Wadiphol. Aside from the meeting with his counterpart Wang Yi, who had previously visited Berlin, the Foreign Ministry was unable to arrange any other interviews.
But on the other hand, German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (from the German Social Democratic Party) visited China. It seems that he managed to calm things down. “We seek dialogue with China to find solutions to pressing problems, despite the growing international tensions,” the Vice Chancellor announced before his departure in mid-November.
Germany, China and rare earths
In addition to many other issues, Germany has an urgent concern: the Federal Republic relies heavily on China’s supplies of so-called rare earths, such as lithium. These raw materials are essential for the manufacture of countless products, for example, in the automobile industry, but also for weapons, such as submarines or fighter aircraft.
China has dominated the global market for low-priced rare earth minerals for many years, and is now also using its position geopolitically. When China threatened a few weeks ago to halt exports as part of its dispute with the United States over trade issues, German automakers were also afraid to halt production, but this could have been avoided.
According to Janka Oertel, a political scientist and China scholar in Berlin, the way Germany now feels this dependence is also the result of years of inactivity. Rare earths from China were cheap and plentiful, so local production was abandoned.
Oertel announced for the series phoenix“We were not particularly enthusiastic about the idea of building mines in our country, because it would involve significant environmental damage. In fact, we were glad that it was done elsewhere.” In China specifically.
Merz wants to address the Ukrainian war
Another sensitive issue between Germany and China, which Johan Wadevoll will now also face, is Beijing’s role in the war in Ukraine. On the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg, Merz gave an interview to DW on November 23, and announced that he would make his long-awaited inaugural visit to Beijing in January or February 2026.
In South Africa, he was able to speak with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang. He later told DW: “China can increase pressure on Russia to end this war. This is the topic of my talks with the Chinese government, and if necessary, it will also be the topic of my meeting with the Chinese president next year. But I hope that a ceasefire will be reached by then, and that it will not affect my talks in Beijing.”
(million/NCP)