German Foreign Minister Berber paid a visit to Lithuania on Friday and met with the Lithuanian Foreign Minister Franz Bayless and others. During her visit, she mentioned that the so-called "coercive measures" taken by China against Lithuania were unacceptable, and said that China should stop such acts.
Lithuanian National Radio and Television Station (LRT) reported on the 22nd that Berber expressed his support for Lithuania in a speech: "We unanimously support our partners in the World Trade Organization? No German company listened to China's threat and withdrew from Lithuania. " Bobock stayed in Lithuania for three days in all. On Friday, she visited the NATO battle group in Lukara, hoping to learn about the soldiers' preparations from Lieutenant Colonel Andra of the German battalion.
German Chancellor Angela Scholz is scheduled to pay a two-day visit to Japan on the 28th of this month and will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister kishida fumio. This is Schultz's first visit to Japan since he took office. Germany holds the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven industrialized countries this year. Matsuno, spokesman and chief cabinet secretary of the Japanese government, announced at a regular press conference on Friday afternoon that Schultz will visit Japan on the 28th and 29th.
Regarding the significance of Schultz's visit to Japan, Matsuno said that Schultz is the chairman of the Group of Seven industrialized countries this year, and Japan is looking forward to deepening relations with Germany, which is an important partner in sharing basic values and handling international issues through consultation. Japanese media said that Kishida and Schultz are expected to exchange views on the G-7' s strengthening cooperation on the Ukrainian situation and the China issue during the talks.
Aoki believes that the two actions of the German Foreign Minister and the German Chancellor show that the German government is gradually deviating from the friendly and pragmatic China policy of the Merkel government.
After taking office, the German Foreign Minister said many times that he would implement a "tough China" policy. However, due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, she has rarely made any comments on China policy recently. This time in Lithuania, the demand that "China must lift the sanctions against Lithuania" looks like an "assistant secretary of state sent by the United States", with a strong tone and the domineering attitude of western politicians. But then again, although Berber said a lot of tough words to China, on the whole, her actions were much milder than her words.
After taking office, the German Chancellor, though pragmatic, visited Japan for the first time in Asia instead of China, and visited China almost every year. Although this time he is visiting Japan as the prime minister of the rotating presidency of G7, the topic is mainly G7, but it may also involve the topic of China. Moreover, he visited Japan first. Recently, the German government often said that it would reduce its dependence on China and strengthen cooperation with Japan and other Asian countries.
In short, deviating from Merkel's principled and pragmatic foreign policy will eventually make Germany gradually lose its strong influence in the international order.