Amsterdam, 14 April 2023 – German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock addressed a number of sensitive topics in a press conference with her Chinese counterpart Qin Gang. She called on China not to supply arms to Russia, nor dual-use goods, which can be used for both civilian and military purposes. Baerbock also raised the question of why China has not yet called on the “aggressor Russia” to end the war. No country has as much influence on China as Russia, Baerbock said. She pointed out to Minister Gang that China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has a responsibility in the matter. Minister Gang then said that China does not want to add fuel to the conflict.
Baerbock also spoke on the Taiwan issue. Although Germany does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, Baerbock called on China to resolve the conflict peacefully. Baerbock also expressed her concern about the human rights situation in the country. She also referred to the UN Human Rights Commissioner’s report on the situation of the Uyghur minority.
“What China needs least is a teacher from the West,” Gang went on to say. According to him, every country has its own circumstances and its own cultural and historical background. There are no universal standards in the world, he said.
