BEIJING: China has summoned the German envoy after Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called President Xi Jinping a “dictator”, Western media reported on Monday.
Though China and Germany are major trade partners, however, they have some differences on the issue of Taiwan.
Annalena Baerbock, during an interview with Fox News, used harsh words against President Xi that angered China.
A foreign ministry spokesman in Berlin confirmed to Western media that Germany’s ambassador was summoned to the Chinese foreign ministry in connection to the remarks.
China terms comments extremely absurd
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a daily news briefing that the comments were extremely absurd and were a serious breach of China’s political dignity.
This was the third time that in recent days China had summoned Germany’s ambassador.
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Beijing first summoned the German envoy when the country’s education minister visited Taiwan in March, the first cabinet-level German visit to the island in 26 years. Beijing says Taiwan is its own territory and to be seized one day.
The German envoy was again called in following a G7 foreign ministers’ statement about Taiwan in August 2022, when Germany was its president.
Germany is taking a hard stance against China and in July published a new policy on ties with China.
Concerns in Berlin about Chinese investments have been growing as German businesses heavily rely on Chinese investments.
Last year, the German government blocked the sale of two chipmakers to Chinese companies due to security issues.
