German Finance Minister’s China Trip Draws Fire From Coalitionโ Partner
berlin,Germanyโ – November 17,2025 – A planned trip to China by German Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeckโข is facing sharp โคcriticism from โwithin the governing coalition,as the visit proceeds despite the postponement of Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s planned diplomatic engagement with Beijing. The Greensโ party is โคvoicing concerns that the โdual track-a high-level financial delegationโ continuing as scheduled while diplomatic talks are stalled-presents a conflicting message โtoโ China.
The controversyโ underscores ongoing debate within Germany regarding its approach to China, especially in light of Beijing’s โคrelationship with Moscow amid the war in Ukraine and recent trade policies. The timing of theโ visits, with โคBaerbock’s trip canceled due to a perceived lack of substantive engagement from the Chinese government, has โขfueled accusations of a disjointed foreign policy strategy. The trip is expected toโ focus on economicโฃ relations and investment opportunities, butโ critics argue it risks signaling a prioritization of โcommerce overโ concerns about humanโ rights and โฃgeopolitical alignment.
Green Party leader Franziska Brantner articulated the party’s disapproval to the โEditorial Network Germany (RND), stating, “The federal government is โฃsending a completely contradictory signal โคto โBeijing.” โขBrantner continued,”If the Foreign minister has to cancel hisโข trip โฃdue to aโข lack of โคserious offers for talks,while โคthe Finance Minister arrives โคsimultaneously โoccurring as planned,it simply โขseems haphazardโ in terms of foreign policy.”
Brantner emphasized the need for a “clear, coordinated” China strategy, particularly given โChina’s โคposition regarding Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and the implementationโ of new trade restrictions. She warned โagainst strengthening economic ties with China, stating, “After the Moscowโ connection, โฃwe don’t need another Beijing connection.”
Germany, a major economic power, has historically maintained โฃstrong trade relations with China. โขHowever, increasing scrutiny ofโค China’s human rights record, its support for Russia, and its โtrade practices have promptedโ calls for a more cautious and strategic approach. Theโ current situation highlights the challenges of balancing economic โinterests with geopolitical considerations in Germany’s China policy.
