Asia-Pacific Features

Even suspected hackers won't spoil the Wen-Merkel game

By Andreas Landwehr and Ulrich Scharlack Aug 27, 2007, 15:37 GMT

Beijing - China's prime minister sounds a bit like an accountant, but friendly nevertheless, when he lists the number of talks he has had with the German chancellor. He has had no less than four personal meetings and five telephone conversations with Angela Merkel, Wen Jiabao counts at the long table in one of the many large rooms in Beijing's Great Hall of the People. All this was a sign that the chancellor 'values the cooperation between China and Germany,' adds Wen, who as always has his hair neatly parted. Nevertheless, the Chinese prime minister doesn't seem to feel entirely comfortable with the chancellor, which piques his interest. 'You rarely use speech notes and you like to get straight to the point,' Wen says in the hall with its thick red carpets. 'I like this style,' he adds. His statement comes unexpectedly, because he usually exchanges only diplomatic platitudes with other guests at this stage. Wen wants the game he opens during this visit to become 'unforgettable.' Who will be able to surprise the other more on this day? On other occasions it has often been Merkel, who opened talks with something unusual. This time her Chinese counterpart tries to reverse the situation. Once it is his turn he leaves it to Merkel to ask her questions first, without long introductions. The otherwise quick-witted chancellor is baffled for a moment: 'Oh!' she says. Then she starts talking about economic relations. Apparently, a stable working relationship has been established between the German woman and the Chinese man over the last two years, maybe even a relationship of mutual trust. They give each other a run for their money during the subsequent press conference, but they also treat each other with respect. They have to be careful. Wen explicitly disagrees with the opinion expressed by some that the atmosphere between Berlin and Beijing has worsened since Merkel took office. It's just the opposite, he says. Things are moving 'forwards not backwards.' Of course, the Chinese prime minister is asked about alleged hacker attacks by the Chinese military on German government computers. Wen says in a serious tone that the leadership immediately 'paid great attention' to the reports. What follows is not an admission of guilt but at least a resolute promise to 'take measures to avoid hacker attacks.' The chancellor doesn't respond to the reports directly. She only reminds her audience that in a globalized world 'the rules of the game have to be respected,' before going on to talk not about computer espionage, but about product piracy. Many in the delegation have been following the reports about the alleged Chinese Trojans with a hint of a smile. States that are closer to Germany than China are also attacking German government computers, it is rumoured. Like Wen, the chancellor sweet-talks her audience in front of the heavy oil painting with the sun setting on the Chinese Wall. She rejects a recognition of Taiwan and backs a policy of Chinese unity. The Chinese recently got nervous that the Taiwanese might manage to achieve international recognition ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. They had been waiting for the chancellor's statement, and there it was - even though it only came forward in response to a question by a journalist from Chinese state radio. Merkel's policy is to admit one thing without completely rejecting the other. She praises China's development to remind her audience that both sides 'talk openly when they have question or concerns.' She doesn't mention the term 'human rights' on this Monday. However, on Tuesday she is due to meet several Chinese journalists who have already been in conflict with the authorities. Beijing sees this as a strong signal. The list of controversial issues is here to stay - even after the chancellor's visit to the Chinese leadership. As far as climate change is concerned 'climate ambassador' Merkel still has a long way to go. The only thing Wen concedes in the end is that the Chinese wanted 'a blue sky, green hills and clean water' too. Apart from that, Wen simply repeats his established position: he holds the wealthy industrial nations responsible for the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, even though he promises more commitment on China's part from 2011. But this is just the response Merkel had expected. © 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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James FinneganAug 28th, 2007 - 19:52:49

This article says that Chancellor Merkel rejected 'a recognition of Taiwan and back[ed] a policy of Chinese unity.' More specifically, according to the People's Daily Online (a far from trustworthy source to be sure) she 'reiterated her adherence to the one-China policy, adding she would never provide platform [sic] for pro-independence separatist forces in Taiwan.' Ouch. Why is Germany taking such a hard line against Taiwan's democratically elected government?

My criticism is not so much over Chancellor Merkel endorsing the One-China policy -- unfortunately her country is a part of the majority in doing so -- but rather the fact that she seems to have used such caustic and partisan language. Phrases like 'pro-independence separatist forces' are right out of the PRC authoritarian regime's propaganda playbook. Whereas China is undoubtedly a premier trading partner to Germany, China's government also stands by and, as the article relates, does little to prevent the piracy of German intellectual property or hacker attacks against German military and government networks that originate from China. Taiwan on the other hand, is a free and democratic society with a market economy of worldwide influence and a government structure strikingly similar to Germany's own.

Why is Germany, the economic powerhouse of the European Union, so eager to tow the China line? With all due respect Chancellor Merkel, was denken Sie hier?

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...Aug 29th, 2007 - 09:22:06

For the same reasons why the USA isnt supporting Taiwan openly anymore. It just supports it behind the scenes to avoid escalating the issue into a open conflict.

What would happen if China AND ALSO Taiwan hear that European countries and the US support their independence tendency openly.

China would react aggressively as they could never accept this.

Thats for sure and whats much worse : Taiwan could get overconfident that these countries would come to their help in case they declare their independence sponaneously and China tries to occupy them.

They wouldnt help in that case.

This could escalate into world war Nr.3 faster than anyone can imagine.

So the best way to protect Taiwan is just to give China hints that Taiwan *may* have powerful allies if it decides to first-strike against Taiwan.

But its vital never to say something openly and make sure that Taiwan knows that it would not get help from the USA and Europe if it overreact and does something stupid out of the blue.

The rest of the world would not let itself drag into a world war just because Taiwan starts something up on their own.

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James FinneganAug 29th, 2007 - 21:20:02

Indeed you've just described the United State's policy of being intentionally vague concerning cross-Strait relations to a tee - but my point is that you don't see officials in the United States (much less the American president) coming out and using language anything like what Chancellor Merkel used.

As I said, not openly supporting Taiwan is what I take issue with here, the issue is that a Western leader is essentially acting as a mouthpiece for PRC propoganda. Statements like Merkel's are not arrived at through cold pragmatism. On balance there is no net benefit for Germany or any other country in approaching the Taiwan Strait in such a narrow-minded or biased way.

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James FinneganAug 29th, 2007 - 21:22:27

Wow, two bad typos in my last comment:

1. *United States'* not 'United State's'

2. not openly supporting Taiwan is NOT what I take issue with here

Sorry.

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