German Chancellor Plans First China Visit Amid Trade Tensions

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is preparing for his first visit to China, expected by the end of 2025, accompanied by a delegation of leading business executives. The visit aims to reinforce bilateral relations between Germany, Europe's largest economy, and China, one of its key trading partners, amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States. Chinese companies are interested in expanding investments in Germany, and Merz's trip could help mend strained diplomatic ties that had deteriorated under the previous German government. This visit follows a recent tour of Europe by China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who visited Berlin to lay groundwork for an EU-China summit. Discussions between German and Chinese officials have included critical geopolitical issues such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Taiwan, and the Middle East crisis. While Merz has taken a firm stance on China, he is also navigating a cautious approach to balance economic dependencies—especially in the automotive sector—with geopolitical concerns.