Merz and Steinmeier on separate paths to Asia

Travel diplomacy

Merz and Steinmeier on separate paths to Asia

Steinmeier sets off on his second state visit to China. At the same time, Merz travels to the neighborhood of the giant empire. Is that a coincidence?

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and Federal President Frank Walter Steinmeier have set off on multi-day trips to Asia. In the morning Steinmeier started a four-day trip State visit to China. Just five hours later, Merz lifted from the Berliner Airport and began his longest foreign trip to date as Chancellor. His first stop is the rich city-state of Singapore, then he continues to Japan and South Korea.

They are two trips to very different partners. Steinmeier visits with China by far Germany’s most important economic partner in Asia. However, the country, which is led authoritarianly by the Communist Party, is seen as a competitor and a rival to the system. The three countries that Merz is visiting, on the other hand, are among the like-minded partners on the continent. Germany is most closely connected to Japan via the G7 of democratic economic powers.

Merz only returns late on Friday evening Berlin back, shortly afterwards Steinmeier too. In government circles it is important that there is no direct connection between the two trips. So one doesn’t happen because of the other. According to the Chancellery, the Merz trip is one “in its own right”. Nevertheless, both sides have coordinated closely.

This is Merz’s third trip to Asia as Chancellor. He had it in January – unlike his predecessors Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Angela Merkel (CDU) – decided to go with India to visit the world’s most populous country before China, where he only showed up a few weeks later. A clear sign that he wants to reduce Germany’s economic dependence on the great power China when it comes to exports, but especially when it comes to importing important raw materials.

This so-called diversification is now also the purpose of his third trip to Asia. It should be understood as an investment in partnerships with the states in the region and “in a shared vision of international order”.

In Singapore, in addition to his political discussions, the Chancellor will give a keynote speech on Asia policy Federal Government hold. In Japan and South Korea Participation in business conferences is on his program. From the South Korean capital Seoul, he will also make a detour to the demilitarized zone on the border North Korea make.

Merz is accompanied by 30 top managers. Among other things, the bosses of SiemensTelekom, Henkel, but also from defense companies like airbus Defense and Space and Quantum Systems included.

Several company agreements, as well as agreements between governments, are to be signed – for example on artificial intelligence, infrastructure and critical raw materials.

In addition to the economy, a second focus will be security policy – especially in Japan. Despite the great distance, the country is one of the supporters of the Ukraine and has the Patriot systems, which are so important for air defense.

For Steinmeier, the four-day state visit to China is the conclusion and highlight of his numerous trips to Asia in recent years. In his second term in office alone, he visited around ten Asian countries, including Singapore, Japan and South Korea, where the Chancellor is now flying.