has been the entrenchment of China in the global division of labour and its increasingly important role as an independent … East Asia, deepening inter-dependence, in practical terms, largely involves deepening commercial ties with mainland China …

The de facto politically independent Taiwan is coming under increasing pressure from the People’s Republic of China …. Germany is committed to a one-China policy, which rules out any diplo­matic recognition of Taiwan. Nevertheless, there is … scope to expand and intensify relations below this threshold and thus counter China’s policy of intimidating and isolating …