Merz traveled to Beijing at a time when domestic dissatisfaction in Germany is widespread over the government’s economic performance and foreign policy. The costs of the war in Ukraine, industrial stagnation, and mounting living pressures on citizens have placed the government in a defensive position. In this context, the trip to China should be seen as an attempt to generate an external achievement with domestic political utility — a result that could help restore the government’s managerial image.
Merz’s emphasis on “fair and transparent competition” in economic relations with China, alongside the presence of a large business delegation and the signing of agreements in the fields of climate and industrial transformation, indicates that Berlin more than ever needs China’s market capacity. This need is driven not from a position of strength but from economic urgency. Foreign policy has therefore become a tool to manage internal legitimacy crises.
Europe turning to the East
Merz’s position that monetary and trade issues should be addressed through the European Union reflects a broader trend across the continent. Before him, other European leaders had also traveled to Beijing. This simultaneity shows that Europe is in the process of redefining its China-oriented policy.
The reality is that the severing or reduction of ties with Russia, costly dependence on American energy and weapons, and inflationary pressures stemming from the war in Ukraine have pushed Europe toward diversifying its economic partners. In this context, China is seen not only as a trading partner but also as a geo-economic anchor. Although Europeans also seek to influence Beijing’s relations with Moscow, the weight of Europe’s internal economic crisis is far more decisive than geopolitical considerations.
This trend signals a shift in the structure of global power — a shift that has forced Europe to move away from prescriptive policies and toward engagement driven by necessity.
Transatlantic divide and recognition of a new order
Eight decades of Europe’s security and economic reliance on the United States now face serious challenges. Trade disputes, unilateral tariffs imposed by Washington, and rising defense spending have exposed the widening gap across the Atlantic. Merz has previously spoken about the need to reassess Europe’s defense and economic dependence and even described anti-BRICS approaches as mistaken.
In this context, the visit to China is more than a tactical move; it carries a strategic message — the gradual acknowledgment of the end of a U.S.-centered unilateral order. The alignment of this approach with divisions evident at forums such as Davos and the Munich Security Conference reflects a change in discourse in European capitals.
Europe has come to recognize that in the emerging order, relying solely on the United States neither guarantees lasting security nor ensures sustained economic growth. Therefore, shifting toward the East forms part of a new balancing strategy.
Europe’s strategic contradictions
Despite this pivot, Europe remains trapped in fundamental contradictions. Continued military support for Ukraine, insistence on broad sanction policies, and political alignment in international crises conflict with claims of strategic autonomy. This duality limits Europe’s room for maneuver in its engagement with emerging powers.
Although closer ties with China may help slow the gradual decline of Europe’s global position, these efforts will not yield lasting results without a reassessment of interventionist and sanction-based policies. Merz’s visit to Beijing should be seen as a step toward acknowledging the realities of the new order — one in which a U.S.-dominated unipolar system is giving way to a fluid multipolar structure.
NOURNEWS