As if the world hasn't already got enough into a state of disorder with the war of aggression on Ukraine and the rapidly increasing energy problems: The explosive new documentary “ARD Story: The China Trap: how blackmailable are we?” by Philipp Abresch and Mario Schmidt takes a critical look at the close ties between the German economy and the Asian superpower. A new threat to the prosperity and future viability of Germany as an export nation is becoming more and more apparent. The German government is increasingly worried about its dependence on China - especially because there are signs of new escalations and crises that could even lead to an open confrontation between China and the USA.
If China cancels supplier contracts, German SMEs would be threatened with closure
The conflict over Taiwan has been rumbling for a long time. “If it escalates overnight, it would be the worst case scenario for us” says Peter Bachmann from the photovoltaic company Solarwatt. He fears a lack of supplies from China - similar to many other producers in Germany who have become fatally dependent on China in the course of an increasingly questionable China strategy.
It is still completely unclear what is to take the place of the previous, now increasingly naïve faith in globalised free trade. If China cancels supplier contracts, German SMEs would also be threatened with closure. Bicycle expert Dirk Zedler demonstrates, for example, what a bicycle would look like without parts from China: “This wouldn’t be a bicycle, you would have a few components.”
And the answer to the title question of the documentary is also given - but in very sobering way. “Of course we are blackmailable,” says Berlin pharmacist Anke Rüdinger. She cannot and will no longer rely on the supply of drugs from China. Instead, she mixes her own products locally again - according to her own formulation.
ARD Story: The China Trap: how blackmailable are we? – Wednesday, March 8, – ARD: 10:50 p.m.
Source: teleschau – der mediendienst GmbH
Author: Rupert Sommer
Photo: NDR