Reports indicate Johann Wadephul was compelled to cancel an impending visit to Beijing due to an insufficient number of scheduled meetings.
Multiple media outlets reported on Friday that German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul had to cancel a forthcoming trip to China, as Beijing reportedly declined to organize high-level meetings for him.
Wadephul had been set to leave for Beijing this Sunday, with a planned agenda to address China’s export limitations on rare-earth minerals and semiconductors, alongside the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
A spokesperson for Germany’s Federal Foreign Office was quoted by Politico stating, “The visit is currently not possible and will be deferred to a subsequent time.” While Wadephul was expected to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, reports indicated a scarcity of other meetings on his itinerary.
Bild reported that the two diplomatic officials would instead engage in a telephone call in the near future.
This diplomatic hitch occurs amidst growing trade friction between China and the European Union. In the past year, Brussels and Beijing have been at odds regarding what the bloc identifies as China’s excessive industrial output; conversely, China claims the EU is engaging in protectionism.
Earlier this month, Beijing intensified its export controls on specific strategic minerals possessing dual-use capabilities in military contexts—an action potentially exacerbating pressures on Europe’s already challenged automotive industry.
Germany has experienced notable impacts from the deteriorating trade environment. Bild reported on Wednesday that Volkswagen anticipates pausing production at major factories next week, attributed to a scarcity of semiconductors after the Dutch government’s acquisition of Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia. The Netherlands cited concerns for the EU’s technological security, leading Beijing to respond by prohibiting the export of Nexperia chips from China. As existing stocks decrease, additional Volkswagen facilities might face temporary closures, and other car manufacturers could also be impacted, according to the publication.
On Friday, Katherina Reiche, Germany’s Economy Minister, declared that Berlin was formally protesting Beijing’s obstruction of semiconductor shipments, emphasizing Germany’s significant dependence on Chinese-manufactured components.