Published on :
Germany confirms the arrival of the Chinese Cosco in the capital of the port of Hamburg, with a participation however revised downwards. Berlin spares the Twenty-Seven worried about this new Chinese acquisition, while preserving its Beijing trade.
The question is debated. It arose suddenly six years ago when the German nugget Kuka, specializing in industrial robots, was bought by a Chinese group. A few months later, Angela Merkel blocks the acquisition of another company coveted by the Chinese. At the same time, the Chancellor was the best ambassador for trade with China, with her regular trips to Beijing, accompanied by a gathering of businessmen. Under his leadership, trade tripled.
Dangerous Liaisons
The Russian war in Ukraine has revived the debate. The leading European power has built its growth on cheap energy: Russian gas. She now realizes how imprudent this choice was. Environmentalists, and in particular the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, want the relationship with China to be reviewed in the light of the current crisis. Both environmentalists and liberals have opposed Cosco’s entry into the capital of the port of Hamburg. Because China could exercise control over this strategic infrastructure, which is a bit like the portal to the German nation.
► Read also : Germany: Olaf Scholz in favor of the takeover of part of the port of Hamburg by China
Cosco is the fourth largest shipowner in the world, it is above all a public company already very well established in Europe. She swallowed the port of Piraeus in Greece during the debt crisis and acquired stakes in the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp. While no foreign company is authorized to go up in the capital of the Chinese ports. This constant double standard from Beijing ended up cooling the Europeans.
The German intelligence chief heard by the Bundestag on this controversial participation of Cosco warned of the risks associated with his arrival: his presence could facilitate Chinese espionage and why not facilitate a sabotage operation in the event of conflict between the two countries. And Thomas Haldenwang continues with a “weather” analysis of international relations: “Russia is a storm, but China is climate change”.
Can Germany do without China?
China is its second customer. One million German jobs depend on exports to this country, or 3% of the total workforce. It’s a lot if China were to decide on a sudden embargo on German products, but Berlin can anticipate and diversify its outlets. China is also a leading supplier for low-end manufactured goods such as toys, furniture, clothing or shoes. These goods can be imported from other emerging countries. There is therefore no danger on this import component.
Dependency is more critical for the supply of strategic raw materials
Germany, like the rest of the world, depends on China for rare earths. Small metals essential for wind turbines. As long as she has not found a substitute, she prefers to spare this precious supplier. It is also a key country for its automobile industry. It achieves 30% of its turnover in the Chinese market. And the big German groups continue to bet on this country. They have invested 10 billion euros there since the beginning of the year. A record.
It is these national interests that Olaf Scholz wants to defend by going headlong to Beijing. He is expected next week. He will therefore be the first foreign leader to meet Xi Jinping since he was confirmed as the head of the Chinese Communist Party. This precipitation annoys the Elysée. The difference in approach to China is part of the Franco-German dispute. Emmanuel Macron will be able to discuss it at leisure with the Chancellor whom he receives this Wednesday, October 26 for lunch, at the Élysée.
► Also to listen: Tensions between Paris and Berlin: mishap or deep crisis?