China rebukes Berlin for ‘microphone diplomacy’ – DW – 11/04/2025

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged Germany to avoid publicizing temporary disagreements after Berlin postponed a planned visit by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful.

According to Beijing, Wang told Wadefull in a phone call that Germany should avoid “groundless accusations contrary to facts.” He said the two countries should create a “more stable and sustainable political framework” to keep relations on the right track.

“China and Germany should build a more stable and durable political framework to ensure that bilateral relations always remain on the right track,” Wang said.

A German Foreign Office spokesman said Wadful and Wang had also agreed that the visit should be rescheduled “soon”. China also confirmed its invitation to Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and extended an additional invitation to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The phone call was initially described in cordial terms. A German Foreign Office spokesman earlier said that Wadefull and Wang agreed in their phone call that “stable German-Chinese relations are of great interest to both countries.”

In late October, the Foreign Office postponed Wadefull’s planned visit to China shortly before departure. The reason given was that the Chinese hosts had not confirmed any appointment for Wadefull other than the meeting with Wang. The Foreign Office expressed regret and pointed to a number of topics on which the German government would prefer to negotiate with China – such as trade disputes, rare earth metals and relations with Russia.

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In diplomatic news, China has urged Germany to avoid publicizing disagreements after Berlin postponed the planned visit of Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Wadefull that Germany should avoid “groundless accusations”, Beijing said.

Berlin had delayed the visit after Beijing confirmed there would be no meeting other than the one with Wang, citing the need for comprehensive talks.

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