The political demand is understandable.
Since the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, which led to a new rapprochement between Beijing and Moscow, the debate about the heavy dependence of German companies on the Chinese market has intensified.
Now Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck wants to slow down business with China and is publicly calling for tougher dealings with the authoritarian regime in the People's Republic.
In the German auto industry, he falls on deaf ears.
That too is understandable.
Because Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes & Co. live from the largest car market in the world.
The jobs in Wolfsburg, Munich or Stuttgart are secured in the Far East.
If politicians really want to put pressure on German companies' activities in China in view of the new geopolitical and trade tensions, they must back up their words with action.
Should the business with the People's Republic become less attractive for the German economy, it would refrain from doing so of its own accord.
But unlike in the case of Russia, the consequences would be difficult to cope with in the current delicate economic situation.
That must be clear to every politician, no matter how honorable his motives may be.