Merz in China: Business Appetite Meets Geopolitical Realities

We discuss Germany’s China policy against the backdrop of Friedrich Merz’s visit to Beijing from February 24 to 26 – his first as federal chancellor. Merz is accompanied by 30 high-ranking business representatives, among them the CEOs of Bayer, Volkswagen, and Siemens, eager to strengthen ties with the Chinese market. The visit comes at a pivotal moment as the European Union seeks ways to enhance its economic competitiveness vis-à-vis Beijing while US protectionism adds further pressure.