Germany and UK weigh China’s opportunities against strategic risks

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s first visit to China, including stops at AI and tech hubs, signals Berlin’s push to reset relations, secure new business deals, and rebalance trade after a recent ‘China shock.’ Parallel media and think-tank pieces probe whether China is an indispensable economic powerhouse or a risky partner, highlighting Merz’s praise for strong ties even as concerns grow about dependence and security. In the UK, discussions of Green, Reform and Labour (Starmer) foreign policies reveal wider European unease and division over how tough or accommodating to be toward Beijing, a debate that will shape future trade, tech, and geopolitical strategy across the continent.