For a long time, strong ties with China guaranteed German businesses cheap goods and solid profits. But China has not only caught up in many areas—it has overtaken. What was once a partnership has become a dependency. And that dependency is becoming harder to ignore. China is no longer just an economic powerhouse—it’s asserting itself politically, too. Whether in the Ukraine war, its ties to Russia, or ongoing threats toward Taiwan, China has shifted from a quiet partner in globalization to a self-confident global power. In Berlin, politicians are waking up to a new reality: what used to be a relationship has turned into reliance—and cutting ties isn’t that simple.

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