China criticises German call to reduce dependence on Chinese products

(Patria) - China has criticised the German government's call to reduce dependence on Chinese products and reduce other potentially destabilising factors in bilateral relations, calling it a form of protectionism, AP reported.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that the long-awaited German government strategy for relations with China, which points to "systemic rivalry", is actually "against the trend of the times and will only exacerbate divisions in the world". Wang said the two countries are "partners rather than rivals", a typical formula used by the ruling Chinese Communist Party when dismissing criticism.

"We believe that engaging in competition and protectionism in the name of reducing risks and dependence, overstretching the concept of security, and politicising normal cooperation will only be counterproductive and create artificial risks," Wang told reporters at a daily briefing.

Germany is Europe's largest economy, and the strategy seeks to balance trade ties with China, its largest trading partner in recent years, due to Beijing's growing assertiveness and its refusal to criticise Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The 64-page document approved by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's cabinet builds on Germany's first national security strategy, published a month ago.
The strategy was released several weeks after Scholz and about half of his cabinet hosted a delegation led by new Chinese Premier Li Qiang, whose visit to Berlin was his first trip abroad.

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Germany's China strategy: Aligning with Washington and announcing a bloc division of the world

Written by: Armin SijamićAfter adopting its first 'National Security Strategy' last month, Germany yesterday, in a way, supplemented the document by publishing its China strategy. Last month's document is in line with the well-known German