Germany's Christian Democrat leader Angela Merkel signalled a tougher stance towards China on Friday by refusing to support Beijing's attempt to lift the European Union's weapons embargo.
Ms Merkel did not discuss the embargo on Friday when she met Chinese president Hu Jintao on his three-day visit to Germany.
But she signalled that she would take a tougher stance towards the communist country than outgoing chancellor Gerhard Schröder. Aides to Ms Merkel said in future, the issue would be linked to human rights.
The Germans are finding out what American has already discovered, that there is a giant sucking sound out east....
Wolfgang Clement, outgoing economics minister, told his Chinese counterpart that while bilateral trade had expanded rapidly in recent years - reaching €53bn ($62bn) in 2004 - the balance "was becoming somewhat distorted", with Chinese exports to Germany expanding by 26 per cent this year, but trade in the opposition direction shrinking 5 per cent. He called on China to open its markets more fully, intensify efforts to end product piracy and stop abuses of intellectual property rights.
[Taiwan] [China] [EU]
5 comments:
and Merkel is where on the right left spectrum?
Man, do you like take your camera to every meal?
Excellent photos.
No idea.
And yes, I take my camera everywhere I go.
Merkel is on the right of the political spectrum, her opponents at the elections were the Social Democrats (in their worst performance ever).
Merkel spoke about Weapons Embargo already during electoral campaign. Let's say it's one of the few positive aspects of her government.
But maybe she's just seeking higher bribes.
We still have to check how Zapatero will act
I sincerely hope you are wrong about the "higher bribes“ deal.
Both for the sake of Taiwan, as well as the rest of the world. :)
The problem is that Merkel and the CDU had no choice but to form a "grand coalition" with the Social Democrats. Last I heard, the foreign minister post was going to the SPD.
It's not clear at all how much Merkel is going to be able to accomplish during her chancellorship, hobbled by what's shaping up to be a crippling coalition.
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