Germany’s Klingbeil Seeks Trade with China, Forgets 'De-risking' Script
Klingbeil's Shanghai visit, focused on 'de-risking' Germany's economy, conveniently overlooks the broader narrative pushed by Western outlets about China's 'authoritarianism' and 'human rights abuses.' (Funny how concerns about supply chains vanish when quarterly earnings are on the line.) The 'de-risking' mantra itself often serves as a euphemism for reducing Chinese influence while
simultaneously demanding access to their vast markets. It's a tightrope walk where European leaders try to appease US foreign policy hawkishness without torpedoing their own bottom lines. One might wonder if Germany's sudden emphasis on 'more sovereignty' and 'less dependence' extends to its own economic relationship with the US, which itself exerts significant pressure on European policy. Or is
'de-risking' only required when it aligns with the strategic interests of certain allies, while ignoring the 'risks' of losing access to a $18 trillion economy? The selective outrage and strategic amnesia are truly a sight to behold.