German FM delays China visit as tensions rise

Germany said on Friday that a forthcoming visit by its foreign minister to China had been postponed as meetings could not be arranged, at a time of heightened EU-Beijing trade tensions particularly for rare-earths.

“The Chinese side was ultimately able to confirm only the appointment with the Chinese foreign minister, and could not confirm any other additional appointments,” a foreign ministry spokeswoman said.

“We very much regret that,” she said, noting there were several issues Berlin wanted to raise with Beijing during Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul’s visit, which had been due to take place in the coming days.

She listed trade restrictions, particularly when it comes to rare earths and semiconductors, as well as China’s potential to influence Russia over its war in Ukraine.

“It is in our interest that China contributes to achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. No other country has as much influence on Russia,” the spokeswoman said.

Wadephul intends to hold phone talks with his Chinese counterpart soon, she said.

Tensions with the European Union have flared in recent times, particularly on the economic front.

China this month announced new controls on the export of rare-earth technologies, used to make magnets crucial to the auto, electronics and defence industries.

The EU says the restrictions have forced some of the bloc’s companies to halt production and inflicted economic harm.

The Dutch move to effectively take control of chipmaker Nexperia, which is based in the Netherlands but owned by a Chinese company, has also sparked a row.

Beijing has since banned exports of some of the company’s products from China, triggering fears of shortages of crucial chips in Europe, particularly for automakers.

German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said earlier on Thursday that Berlin had pressed the Chinese commerce ministry to allow chip exports again.

“The situation has not yet been resolved, but we are still working on it,” she told reporters while on a visit to Ukraine.

China and Germany, the world’s second- and third-biggest economies respectively, have traditionally had close relations, particularly on the economic front.

But ties have frayed over myriad issues in recent years, ranging from claims of Beijing’s unfair trade practices to human rights.

Agence France-Presse