Beijing and Berlin play down diplomatic rift after German minister cancels China trip

China and Germany sought to cool talk of rising friction on Monday after German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul abruptly postponed what would have been his first official visit to Beijing.

Info comes via Reuters reporting.

• trip, planned as the first by a minister in Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government, was cancelled at the last minute after China agreed to only one of Wadephul’s requested meetings
• followed weeks of tension over Chinese export curbs on semiconductors and rare earths, as well as Berlin’s criticism of Beijing’s support for Russia and its actions in the Indo-Pacific.

A German government spokesperson said Berlin still wanted “respectful and good exchange” with China and did not see the postponement as altering policy direction. China’s foreign ministry called for both countries to continue developing ties “from a strategic and long-term perspective,” noting that both economies have been hit hard by U.S. tariffs.

Business groups warn that further escalation would hurt Germany’s already fragile economy and strain trade relations that topped US$200 billion last year.

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.