The traffic light argues about the future course in China policy.
The Southwest finance minister is warning companies in the country heavily involved in the Chinese market.
In the event of a crisis, they could not rely on the state to “hit them out”.
Stuttgart/Brussels - Finance Minister Danyal Bayaz has urged companies in the country to become less dependent on China.
"The geopolitical turning point requires a fundamental rethink, also with a view to China," said the Green politician of the German Press Agency in Stuttgart.
“While there are many companies looking to reduce their dependence on China, too many are still doing business as usual in their China business.
I interpret that as companies relying on the state to sack them if something happens and China invades Taiwan, for example.” Bayaz warned that there was no such guarantee.
Accordingly, Bayaz also commented on Europe's dealings with China at a panel discussion on Tuesday evening in Brussels.
At the latest since the clear speeches by President Xi Jinping and the recent military maneuvers around Taiwan, one should no longer have any illusions about China's claims to power, the finance minister continued.
A Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be a huge step backwards for globalization.
The Chinese market will continue to play an important role for Baden-Württemberg.
"But it also means that we have to diversify our business model, reduce dependence on China and intensify free trade with other regions of the world." The economic ties with China are far more intensive than those with Russia before its war of aggression.
"Any sanction would hit us much harder."
Bayaz also criticized the federal government for still not being able to agree on a China strategy - and called for a China stress test.
It is crucial that Europe speaks confidently and with one voice towards China, he said.
"For this, however, the federal government should first come to an agreement and present a consistent China strategy.
A China stress test that makes the dependencies of supply chains and raw materials transparent would be a good start.” dpa
