Annalena Baerbock was not yet officially in office when the new German Foreign Minister from the Greens issued the first warning to Beijing.

It was about the human rights violations in the Chinese province of Xinjiang.

Baerbock was open to a possible import ban on products made there.

In the meantime, Baerbock has expressed himself more diplomatically, but other leading Green politicians are openly calling for a diplomatic boycott of the Olympic Games in Beijing - supported by the FDP, which is also critical of China.

The tone for the legislative period is set: It will not go on as friendly as under the Chancellorship of Angela Merkel (CDU).

Hendrik Ankenbrand

Business correspondent for China based in Shanghai.

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Julia Löhr

Business correspondent in Berlin.

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This is tricky for the German economy.

China is by far Germany's most important trading partner.

Companies imported goods worth 116 billion euros from there last year, more than from any other country.

Computers and other electronic devices make up the majority; machines and textiles are also important product groups.

When it comes to exports from German companies, the United States is the most important buyer country.

But the gap to second-placed China is not great.

The Chinese market is particularly indispensable for the automotive and mechanical engineering industries.

"Exposed to disproportionately high political risks"

Nevertheless, the Greens and FDP get support from the business associations. "China is tightening its course so that Germany and Europe have to react to it," says Albrecht von der Hagen, General Manager of the Association of Family Businesses. The fact that Beijing imposed economic sanctions on the EU country Lithuania because a diplomatic mission from Taiwan recently opened there - which Beijing regards as part of China - is seen by many entrepreneurs as a border crossing. Von der Hagen sees the long-term cooperation with China "seriously called into question" as a result.

The Federation of German Industries (BDI) also wants a “clearer and more self-confident course” towards the state, as the managing director responsible for this, Wolfgang Niedermark, puts it. Also at the risk of economic retaliation. "Anyone doing business in China is exposed to disproportionately high political risks," says Niedermark. It is all the more important that the Federal Government advocate “a permanent level playing field”.

Business and politics have not always been so in agreement. When the former Minister of Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier (CDU) announced a stricter examination of the investments of foreign investors in response to the takeover of the German robot manufacturer Kuka by the Chinese Midea group, the outcry from the associations was still great. Since then, the foreign trade ordinance has been sharpened several times, and the investment review has been extended to more and more areas - with less and less protest. The BDI even called on politicians to strengthen the EU's position vis-à-vis the “systemic competitor” China.

The fact that, after Baerbock's statements, the Chinese embassy in Berlin spoke of “individual politicians” who should show more “respect” towards China was a comparatively mild reaction.

It shows that the People's Republic of Europe does not want to lose as a partner after the relationship with the USA has been completely shattered and countries like Great Britain have now clearly positioned themselves against China.