(Deutsche Welle Chinese website) Handelsblatt commented that wherever the German Chancellor went, whether it was Singapore, Tokyo or Seoul, Xi Jinping and Trump seemed to be always with them. Because whenever Chancellor Merz talks about free trade and economic dependence, people always think of the United States and China. This comment titled "Only Joining Hands with Allies" reads:
"Prime Minister Merz has indeed been slow to deal with German domestic matters such as the federal presidential election, but he is very sensitive to changes in the global power structure. As prime minister, Merz obviously did not pay enough attention to the discussion of whether CSU politician Ilse Aigner should occupy the presidential palace. However, Merz has a very clear understanding of giving a clear response to Trump, Xi Jinping and Putin as soon as possible, and not compromising or dwarfing himself.
In fact, after taking office as prime minister, the situation was stronger than the people, and Mertz's position had changed. Last year, when Mertz visited Washington for the first time as German Chancellor, he was confident in cooperating with Trump. However, a year and a half later, that confidence is almost gone. Compared with the scene when I visited China at the beginning of this year, the reality has also changed a lot. All in all, Mertz's rhetoric toward China and the United States has become increasingly tough. Berlin certainly does not want a trade war, but it also cannot accept unfair dependence. In the words of Berlin’s political circles, the ‘tone’ has changed, especially on the issue of China policy. "
"Business Daily" commented that daring to "say no" to China and the United States, the two major powers, was a clear signal sent by Mertz during his trip to Asia, and it also received a positive response from allies:
"However, there are also some voices of doubt in private. Japan and South Korea are very worried that after Germany and Europe adopt a tougher policy towards China, they will turn to trade protectionism as a whole, which will put Japan and South Korea into a disadvantageous situation. Prime Minister Mertz expressed surprise at this concern and also said But it also reflects the significance of this trip to Asia: only through close communication and communication can we discover each other's concerns and concerns, and only in this way can the strategy of a middle-power alliance be full of vitality."
“Visiting Asia is the right choice”
At a critical moment when the internal political crisis was intensifying, Chancellor Mertz chose to visit Asia. This led to criticism in Germany of "escaping reality" and "not doing business properly". The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung commented:
"In any case, Merz's trip was a correct decision. One out of every four jobs in Germany relies on exports, and the proportion in the industrial sector is close to half. China's aggressive trade policies cause the loss of 15,000 jobs in Germany every month. At the same time, the United States is no longer reliable as a trading partner. In view of this, the German economy urgently needs to establish partnerships with other countries. It is undoubtedly a good thing for the German Chancellor to personally seek partners.
Not everyone in Germany realizes how much of a threat ‘China Shock 2.0’ poses to German prosperity. If Germany's economic prospects do not improve, the consequences will be disastrous. In contrast, whether you can get a full pension after working for 45 years or whether your parents can take a few months of parental leave are not critical issues. In today's world of constant wars and crises, it is simply incredible that Germany is still quarreling over how to defend its social welfare system. Germany rarely lists foreign trade as a policy priority, and Mertz emphasized the importance of foreign trade through this trip to Asia.
Within the Christian Democratic Union, some people who are close to the economic community have some criticisms of Prime Minister Merz's China policy. But should Europe stand idly by as China attacks global markets with subsidies and devalued exchange rates, using key raw materials as geopolitical weapons? Of course, Europeans should not overdo it. The current proposed ‘Made in Europe’ policy has also caused dissatisfaction with the East and Southeast Asian countries that Mertz is trying to win over. In addition to various declarations emphasizing friendship, this is also an important message Merz brought back to Berlin this time. "
