In China, Annalena Baerbock warns of an escalation in the Taiwan Straits.
Your counterpart Qin Gang refuses to interfere in "internal affairs".
Munich/Beijing - German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has urged China to take a more active role in ending the Ukraine war.
She wonders "why the Chinese position has not yet included a call to the aggressor Russia to stop the war," said Baerbock on Friday in Beijing at a joint press conference with her counterpart Qin Gang.
"We all know that President Putin could do this at any time." Baerbock, who is in China for the first time in her role as foreign minister, and Qin had previously exchanged views on this and other topics for almost two hours.
China claims to be neutral in the Ukraine war.
In fact, the country supports the Russians, at least verbally.
President Xi Jinping met with Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin at the end of March;
So far, however, Xi has not responded to an invitation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Kiev, and the two heads of state have not spoken to each other on the phone since the beginning of the war.
Xi's visit to Moscow has shown the great influence China has on Russia, Baerbock said.
"The decision on how to use this influence directly affects Europe's core interests," said the Green politician.
Baerbock also reminded Beijing of its special responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
This includes not supplying arms to Russia, as this will “further prolong this aggression”.
In addition, it must be prevented "that dual-use goods are used for war", i.e. goods that can be used for both civilian and military purposes.
China's Foreign Minister on Baerbock: "We do not supply weapons to conflict parties"
China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang emphasized at the joint press conference: "We are not and will not be supplying any weapons to conflict parties at a later date." Beijing is also committed to peace negotiations.
However, Qin again did not announce any concrete steps.
Instead, he reiterated China's position that it "does not want to continue adding fuel to the fire."
This is exactly what Beijing has been accusing NATO and especially the USA of since the beginning of the war.
From the Chinese point of view, it is precisely the western supply of arms that would prolong the war;
In addition, Beijing, in keeping with Moscow, blames the eastward expansion of NATO for the escalation of the conflict.
So far, China has not publicly condemned Russian aggression and war crimes.
Referring to Taiwan, Baerbock said a military escalation of the conflict was a "horror scenario" and unacceptable.
"Destabilization would have consequences for all countries, the world economy and also for Germany," said the Foreign Minister, who also pointed out the importance of the Taiwanese chip industry.
Taiwan produces about 60 percent of all semiconductors manufactured worldwide and about 90 percent of the most advanced chips.
China regards Taiwan as a renegade province and wants to unite the democratically governed country with the People's Republic, if necessary by force.
At the joint press conference with Baerbock, Foreign Minister Qin said his country would not tolerate interference in "internal affairs."
China and Taiwan: That's what the conflict is about
China and Taiwan: That's what the conflict is about
Baerbock in China: Tensions with Taiwan are increasing
Tensions between Beijing and Taipei recently rose again after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the United States.
China, which opposes the Taiwanese government's contacts with foreign officials, responded to the meeting with a three-day military drill around Taiwan.
According to the Taiwan Foreign Ministry, eight ships and four planes were sighted on Friday, one of which crossed the median line, the unofficial border between the two countries.
On Thursday, Baerbock first visited several German companies and a school in the city of Tianjin, east of Beijing.
She then took the express train to Beijing with China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who comes from Tianjin.
A meeting with the top Chinese foreign politician Wang Yi is on Baerbock's visit program for Saturday.
She will then continue to South Korea and Japan.
(sh)
List of rubrics: © Soeren Stache/dpa