April 15, 2024 (EIRNS)—Giving an overall positive perspective on German-Chinese economic cooperation upon Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s arrival in Chongqing, [Global Times,](globaltimes.cn/page/202404/1310560.shtml) however, also addressed the worrisome loyalty of Germany to Western geopolitics, which undermines cooperation potentials:
“In July [2023], the German government released a toughly-worded China strategy that shifted the focus to de-risking, diversification, and a reduction of dependencies on China. Despite internal pressure, the current German government remains pragmatic and is putting its own economic interests at the top of its priorities.
“Helga Zepp-LaRouche, founder of the Germany-based political and economic think tank the Schiller Institute, told the Global Times over the weekend that for an export economy like Germany, it would be ‘suicidal’ to follow these calls for ‘de-risking.’
“‘Germany is presently experiencing a dramatic economic downfall. Meanwhile, the U.S. has been luring German enterprises to invest in the U.S. instead of Germany with incentives provided by the Inflation Reduction Act. In this adverse environment, the expansion of economic cooperation with China represents an anchor of stability for Germany,’ she said.” If Germany does not effectively resist geopolitics, its relations with China will suffer.
