Chinese President Meets with German Chancellor
The Facts
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with Chinese Pres. Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on Tuesday as part of a four-day visit to China.
According to China's Foreign Ministry, Xi and Scholz engaged in talks at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse where the two discussed trade restrictions, climate change, EU-China relations, Russia-Ukraine, and Israel-Palestine.
The Spin
Pro-China narrative
Tuesday's meeting between Pres. Xi and Chancellor Scholz is a testament to the ever-growing relationship between China and Germany. With both economies now deeply intertwined, the highly successfully working relationship between the two countries highlights what can be achieved when East and West choose to cooperate. Together, China and Germany will only prosper as they continue communicating from positions of respect and strength.
Anti-China narrative
By speaking of open and fair cooperation with Beijing, Scholz's Germany has shown itself to be nothing but naïve in believing that its ultra-dependent relationship with China will benefit anything but Pres. Xi's long-term political goals. Scholz's inability to adequately stand up to Xi is further proof that Europe must not become fragmented in its battle against China. Germany already made the calamitous mistake in recent history of believing Russia could be rationally trusted — this cannot happen again with Beijing.
