China policy: Green politician Brugger takes a sharp stance on the SPD wings

International

The conservative wing of the SPD calls for a pragmatic China policy and warns against an “anti-China” strategy. A position paper by the Seeheimer Kreis also criticizes Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Economics Minister Robert Habeck (both Greens). The paper was available to the dpa news agency on Friday, first the “Spiegel” reported about it.

The Seeheimer Kreis advocates a “coordinated, uniform and long-term strategy” within the federal government in dealing with China out of. “Currently, the heads of the Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of Economics are struggling from one individual case to the next. The focus there is more on the domestic symbolic power of the measures taken than on far-sighted politics.” There should be no “one-dimensional German foreign and economic policy” towards China.

The Greens defense and foreign politician Agnieszka Brugger obviously doesn’t think much of the move. On Twitter She calls the Seeheimer’s serve “poor” and “naive”. In a thread she explains why.

Brugger demands more foresight from Seeheimer-Kreis

“Dear Seeheimer Kreis, really? An intellectually rather poor, naive contribution to China policy. Maybe talk to your foreign politicians or deal with the processing of Russia policy?” Brugger writes.

She had expected, she adds, that by now everyone understood that “subordinating security and our long-term interests to short-term economic gains” was a dangerous strategy. Even if you don’t think values ​​and human rights are that important, Brugger angrily interjects.

Seeheimer circle warns of “anti-China” strategy

In the Seeheimer strategy paper, China is identified as an important player and partner due to its economic and political power. Precisely to meet global challenges such as climate change, the looming nuclear arms race and the numerous trouble spots around the world. At the same time, China has increasingly developed into a competitor and systemic rival.

With a view to the Russian war of aggression against the Ukraine it is said that supply chains need to be diversified and new partnerships formed. “At the same time, the open and honest exchange with China is all the more important.”

An abrupt end to trade relations with China would be an economic disaster, the paper says. In this respect, a coherent China strategy should not be an “anti-China” strategy that aims to decouple Germany from China. The German Business is dependent on numerous imports from China, without which production in Deutschland would stand still.

Brugger makes it clear in her thread that she is not aware of calls for an “abrupt end to all trade relations”. She also clarifies:

Brugger also suggests that the SPD wing, instead of communicating via the press, approach the committees within the coalition – and obtain information from experts. Finally, the Greens politician refers to the book “The Moscow Connection” by Reinhard Bingener and Markus Wehner. It is about former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD) – and what he and his network with the German dependence on Russia have to do.

The federal government is currently developing a new China strategy. Baerbock is currently on a trip to China. She had said that she also wanted to speak about the protection of universal human rights in China. This must be part of fair competitive conditions. Habeck had made it clear that one-sided dependencies, for example with important raw materials, should be avoided. The delivery routes should also be broadened and new markets outside of China should be opened up.

(With material from the dpa)