The outspokenness of the head of German diplomacy in Beijing

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang at the press conference, in Beijing, April 14, 2023. via REUTERS - POOL

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The war in Ukraine, the sound of Chinese boots in the Taiwan Strait and the lack of respect for human rights in China - the head of German diplomacy Annalena Baerbock did not hesitate to evoke all the thorny issues of the moment during her first visit to Beijing. It comes just days after President Emmanuel Macron and the head of the European Commission.

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Beijing has successfully committed itself to a peaceful balance between Iran and Saudi Arabia and should do the same for Ukraine, according to Annalena Baerbock, because no country has more influence over Russia than China:

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It is good that China has signalled its commitment to finding a solution. But I have to say openly that I wonder why the Chinese position so far does not include a demand to the Russian aggressor to stop the war," Baerbock said.

The head of German diplomacy also spoke of the large-scale maneuvers that Beijing has launched near Taiwan: "A military escalation in the Taiwan Strait through which 50% of world trade passes every day would be a catastrophic scenario for the whole world.

"Taiwan belongs to China," retorted Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, visibly irritated by the frankness of his European visitor. The French president had chosen not to mention the thorny Taiwanese issue on the spot.

Annalena Baerbock also did not ignore human rights: "I explained to my counterpart that we see with concern that the scope of civil society in China is shrinking and that human rights are being restricted.

In particular, she criticized the repression of Uighurs and the imprisonment of many dissidents.

► Read also France: what assessment for the visit of Emmanuel Macron in China?

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Read on on the same topics:

• Germany
• China
• Diplomacy
• Taiwan
• Human rights