German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was given some of the highest-level receptions during her recent visit to China. However, she stepped on Beijing’s red line during several speeches, especially on the Taiwan Strait and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Baerbock’s inflexible position on universal values has been a headache for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). But given Germany’s international stature and China’s deteriorated economy, the CCP had no choice but to swallow its pride.
Amid growing internal and external challenges, Beijing is anxious to repair relations with Western nations.
Baerbock visited Beijing from April 13 to 15 at the invitation of the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, the country’s second-highest diplomat. She was received by three top-level CCP officials, including Vice President Han Zheng, which was widely perceived as a groundbreaking arrangement….