German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said during his visit to Japan that his country is seeking closer ties with Indo-Pacific countries that “share democratic values.” Notably, the European leader did not visit China on his first foreign trip since coming into office last December.
In fact, he appeared to acknowledge this decision by saying, “It is no coincidence that my first trip as Chancellor to this region has led today here, to Tokyo. My trip is a clear political signal that Germany and the EU will continue and intensify their engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.”
The theme of his meeting with Japanese officials largely focused on the Ukraine-Russia war. During the joint press conference, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida emphasised that both countries reject Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and warned against making similar attempts in Asia. He also welcomed Germany’s increased involvement in the Indo-Pacific region and said the two countries will work together closely to deal with various challenges, including their response to China.
With Japan his first Asian destination since becoming German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz departs from his predecessor Merkel’s heavy focus on China and signals a long-term strategic reorientation in the Indo-Pacific. Let’s see what deliverables will be announced. https://t.co/gCF4zcoR7p
— Stuart Lau (@StuartKLau) April 28, 2022
Speaking further on the energy sector in the wake of the Ukraine invasion, Scholz and Kishida underscored their efforts to reduce their countries’ dependence on Russian energy imports. Japan and Germany have both condemned Russia’s war against Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Moscow. Japan has provided Ukraine with military equipment, including helmets, body armour, and large amounts of medical supplies. Similarly, Germany has offered non-lethal assistance to Ukraine. However, Berlin and Tokyo have held back from cutting off Russian energy supplies.
In fact, German Minister of Finance Christian Lindner has previously said that Germany is firmly against imposing an oil embargo on Russia, as it would not be able to withstand the economic impact. In response, Ukraine has criticised Scholz for his “weak response to the [Ukraine] crisis” and even allegedly refused a visit by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Kyiv, saying he is “not welcome.”
The Scholz administration appears to have taken this mounting criticism to heart, with Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock announcing last week that Germany will halve its Russian oil imports by the summer and “be at 0 by the end of the year.” She noted that “gas will follow,” but did not offer further detail.
PM Kishida: I had an exchange of views at length with Chancellor Scholz of #Germany, who chose #Japan as his first stop during his visit to Asia. With Germany, which holds the #G7 presidency this year, (1/2) pic.twitter.com/lyGhkJ86El
— PM's Office of Japan (@JPN_PMO) April 28, 2022
Responding to a question about Moscow’s threat to cut off gas deliveries to Europe after it cut supplies to Poland and Bulgaria, Scholz said: “Whether and what decision the Russian government takes in this situation, one can only speculate. One has to prepare for it and, as I said, we started that before the war broke out and we know what we have to do.” The German leader also criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying that his idea of a “forced peace” in Ukraine would not work.
In this regard, Kishida said in a tweet that the “importance of the G7 as a framework for effectively addressing the important challenges of the international community, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”
Both leaders also spoke of China, which has so far refrained from condemning Russia for its aggression in Ukraine. Kishida raised the issue of China’s many territorial disputes, by saying, “[A] change in the status quo by force is something that must be avoided not just in Europe but also in the Indo-Pacific, especially in East Asia.”
This is a cross-party message to China from Germany, as Olaf Scholz skips the main trading partner for the like-minded Japan for his maiden trip to Asia as Chancellor. https://t.co/N0fvqN5ci3
— Stuart Lau (@StuartKLau) April 28, 2022
Since the onset of the Ukraine war, international political analysts have been concerned that China could attempt to take advantage of the fact that international attention and efforts have been somewhat diverted by the Ukraine crisis, and seek to take similar action in Taiwan. Both leaders also shared mutual “serious concerns” over China’s actions in Hong Kong and human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
Japan and China have a territorial dispute in the East China Sea over the Senkaku Islands, which China refers to as the Diaoyu.
Scholz’s visit came on the same day that Germany’s lower house of parliament overwhelmingly passed a petition for support to Ukraine. The petition includes a clause that calls on the government to threaten China with sanctions if it attempts to bypass western restrictions on Russia or provide military aid.
Japan-Germany cooperation; On the occasion of the visit of Chancellor Scholz, we are sending daily necessities donated to the Embassy of Ukraine in Tokyo by people in Japan on the flight back to Germany. pic.twitter.com/7hC8mhGkH5
— MOFA of Japan (@MofaJapan_en) April 29, 2022
While Scholz avoiding a trip to Beijing has not gone unnoticed, a member of the business delegation accompanying Scholz warned against speculating on the decision not to visit China, given strict COVID-19 restrictions in the country.
Scholz’s predecessor, Angela Merkel, warned against severing ties with China during her final days in office. In fact, she was known for her somewhat soft stance on China, particularly with regards to human rights violations and its coercive manoeuvres in the Indo-Pacific. During her tenure, China became Germany’s top trading partner (in 2016).
Equally, however, her government also spearheaded a change in the country’s Indo-Pacific strategy. For instance, her administration noted the need to “strengthen institutions to combat the challenges associated with China’s increasing importance.” Furthermore, it underscored its goal of shaping a global order that is “based on rules and international cooperation, not on the law of the strong,” noting that it has “intensified cooperation with those countries that share our democratic and liberal values.” In contrast, Scholz has not taken as strong a stance on China as of yet, although his government did join a United States-led diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics.