German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock recently visited Australia and spoke about the significant changes in Germany's strategic stance towards China. She pointed out the previous underestimation of Russian President Vladimir Putin's threats to Ukraine by the German government and stressed the need to avoid repeating such oversights.
Baerbock, a member of the Greens party in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition, mentioned that Germany now has a comprehensive approach towards China focused on diversifying supply chains. This strategy aims to reduce dependence on any single nation while nurturing trade relationships. Concerns raised by Germany about Chinese ambitions for hegemony in the Asia Pacific region and their challenges to international law principles have led to a reevaluation of Germany's diplomatic and trade engagements with China.
In an effort to counterbalance Chinese influence and potential over-reliance, Baerbock proposed a more direct trade partnership with Australia, particularly in critical mineral resources like lithium. She shared her intentions to address the current supply chain practices that involve exporting minerals to China for processing before reimporting them – a practice Germany seeks to avoid for strategic reasons. Additionally, Baerbock's visit to Australia included discussions on returning cultural heritage items and addressing broader geopolitical issues like the situation in the Middle East, showing Germany's commitment to upholding international law and promoting humanitarian aid.