German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer issued a warning about China’s claim to power. “China wants to create a world order,” she said.
In an interview with the German Editorial Network, Kramp-Karrenbauer spoke about her views on China and Russia. She said, “Unlike China, Russia, with its arsenal of weapons, poses a very clear threat both in terms of conventional and nuclear weapons. But China has an ambitious plan to make its military the largest and most modern in the world. China clearly wants to forge a world order on its own terms and force the weak to behave in a certain way. That said, Europe and the West cannot be the weaker party …… If we want the world to look in the future like we want it to look from a democratic perspective, then we have to do something about it.”
When asked by reporters about the role of Germany sending a warship to the Indian Pacific, Kramper Kallenbauer replied, “The situation in the Indian Pacific is certainly a matter of concern to us. It is in Germany’s and Europe’s interest to observe the rules of free trade routes and territorial integrity and to strengthen our relations in the region with democratic partners such as Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. The fact that we are sending frigates to the Indian Pacific is also seen as a sign in the U.S. …… We are not only talking about China threatening freedom of navigation at sea, but we are also ready to do something about it. The frigates are an important step in that direction.”
The journalist asked: Is it correct for the coalition partner SPD to accuse CDU member Kramper Kallenbauer of accomplishing a shift in views and vocabulary regarding the treatment of China? Kramper Kallenbauer replied: “I hope we will see China as it really is. For us, China is and will continue to be a very important trade and economic partner. Without China, we would not be able to tackle the major tasks of humanity, such as climate change. But at the same time, China is also a systemic and strategic challenge. I see the inhumane treatment of the Uyghurs in China as a violation of basic human rights. But Chinese leaders call it an internal affair and refuse to engage in critical discussion. This contradicts our understanding of the universal concept of human rights. We are part of the Western world, and we must ensure that human rights are effective. I would be surprised if the Social Democrats took a different view.”
Asked whether China is striving for world domination, Kramper Kallenbauer said, “China is a very power-conscious country, and this is not only shown in its pursuit of economic interests and its concern for the neighborhood.”
Recent Comments