Published: August 9th, 2021,
Last updated: August 9th, 2021
Reinhard Bütikofer is one of the most seasoned China experts in German politics. In our interview, Felix Lee speaks with him about Merkel’s China policy and what a Green Chancellor would do differently. Bütikofer criticizes Germany’s unilateral moves, which tend to weaken Europe’s position against Beijing. He explains why Xi’s inauguration in 2013 represents a change for the worse, and why China has long since begun to decouple itself from the West. The Green MEP argues that Germany should not become fully dependent on China, and should instead cooperate with like-minded partners to counter Beijing’s hegemonic ambitions.