“The German government wants to take a more assertive stance toward Beijing, but when it comes to human rights, it is failing catastrophically. The systematic persecution of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, the oppression of ethnic and religious minorities, and forced labor in the country played no role in Economy Minister Reiche’s trip to China,” criticizes Mirjam Kobold, Advisor for Asia at the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP).
Federal Minister of Economic Affairs Katharina Reiche (CDU) is thus seamlessly continuing the approach taken during Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to China in February 2026, during which human rights demands were also absent. The sad message Berlin is sending to Beijing is unmistakable: human rights are not a subject of negotiation; they are not even a topic of discussion.
The STP welcomes Reiche’s intention to represent German interests more decisively in Beijing than her predecessors did. The organization calls on the federal government not to exclude human rights from these discussions. “German economic interests are legitimate, but they must not be negotiated at the expense of human rights and minority rights in China,” says Kobold.
A delegation in need of explanation
The STP also views the composition of the business delegation accompanying Reiche critically. This delegation includes, among others, the CEO of BASF and a member of the executive board of Siemens Energy. BASF, in particular, has been the subject of criticism for years. Until April 2025, the chemical company operated a joint chemical plant with a Chinese partner in the Uyghur region of Xinjiang/East Turkestan. This partner was linked to companies on the U.S. sanctions list for forced labor. BASF withdrew from Xinjiang only after sustained public pressure and growing international criticism. Siemens Energy, too, was entangled in supply chains that involve Uyghur forced labor.
At the same time, the German government is working to dismantle the few legal safeguards that exist. Chancellor Merz announced as early as May 2025 his intention to abolish the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act and overturn the European Supply Chain Directive. The law requires companies to screen their supply chains for forced labor, child labor, and human rights violations. Anyone who abolishes this obligation while simultaneously refraining from political criticism of Beijing makes themselves complicit in the economic underpinning of the apparatus of oppression in Xinjiang.
This press release was translated from German to English using AI. If you come across errors or ambiguities, please contact us at 65]G378o6DD6CA.
Contact: Mirjam Kobold, Advisor for Asia – 65]G378o5=@3@<]>