Chinese Ambassador Pens Article in Handelsblatt

On February 12, 2025, the Chinese Ambassador to Germany published an article in the business newspaper Handelsblatt titled “Protectionism is Out of Step with the Spirit of the Times” (保護主義不符合時代精神). The ambassador argued that China remains open to foreign business and urged more German investment. He celebrated the success of China’s DeepSeek (深度求索) AI foundation model, arguing that German startups should pursue opportunities in China for cooperation, partnerships, and capital. The article also attacked what it called European “protectionism,” a criticism of the EU’s October 2024 tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.