Published by: World Tibet Network News, Satureday, June 22, 1996
Source: Duesseldorf HANDELSBLATT in German 1515 gmt 21 Jun 96 p12
[Report by Christoph Rabe: "Kinkel Misses Clear Position of Industry"]
Bonn - Following the "emotional debate" over Tibet and human rights violations in the PRC, Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel is worried that bilateral relations could be affected. "This should not happen," Kinkel said in a HANDELSBLATT interview. "I have adopted a clear position: The PRC is a large and important country with which we maintain good political, economic, and cultural relations. We should not jeopardize these relations thoughtlessly." He said, however, this does not mean that human rights and in particular Tibet should not be discussed frankly and publicly. On the Tibet issue, Bonn advocates the "cultural autonomy" of the region and a dialogue with the Dalai Lama. "There should be no doubt, however, that in our view Tibet forms part of the PRC. We do not support separatist movements, and in particular not the Tibetan government- in-exile," Kinkel stressed.
The most recent cause of conflict with Beijing was the international Tibet conference organized by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, which is associated with the Free Democratic Party, in Bonn last weekend [15-16 June], in which the Tibetans' religious leader, the Dalai Lama, and "ministers" of the government-in-exile, as they were officially called in the programme, took part. The PRC government considered this an implicit international recognition of the government-in-exile - rightly, as Kinkel said. The Federal government had to distance itself from this, he said, and that is why the 290,000 German marks [DM] from federal coffers that had originally been promised to the conference were not paid.
According to Kinkel, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation at first approved the funds "because it had not been informed of the details." He said that the Naumann Foundation, whose Tibet conference Kinkel does not criticize on principle, had been formally wrong by officially organizing the conference with the Tibetan government-in-exile. However, Kinkel does not leave any doubt about the intention of this conference: "The Federal government fully supports the intention to help Tibet achieve greater human rights." That is why the motion by all political parties, which was debated in the Bundestag on 20 June, could be supported by all parties. The public has got the impression time and time again that the Federal government has been manoeuvring between human rights appeals and the protection of trade interests. Kinkel said that the Federal government should consider both aspects. He considers the dilemma unavoidable, and believes it can be handled; after all, the same problem has arisen in dealing with
other countries. He said, however, that the government had to assess the overall situation of relations with the PRC. "We should not create the impression that we don't see the difficulties that this country has with its large population and all the problems involved."
On 20 June, just before the Bundestag debate, the PRC government accused the German parliament of "serious interference in China's internal affairs." The debate grossly violated the standards of international relations, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated. In Kinkel's view, the fact that this intervention by Beijing has not been the first in recent months shows that China is reacting "with increasing sensitivity" when the observance of human rights is addressed. He has the impression that everything can be discussed with China; however, the dignity, pride, and independence of this country, with its long cultural tradition, must not be wounded. "It always depends on how something is said. In my view, we do not always observe moderation." Despite increasingly sharper tones from Beijing, Kinkel considers it "a foregone conclusion" that he will visit China as scheduled from 11-13 July, even if signals of reservation have recently been received from Beijing. "There is no reason to cancel this visit," Kinkel stres
ses. "We will continue our dialogue on all topics, including human rights. We do not pursue a policy towards China that is in any way submissive." In shaping his China policy, isn't Kinkel running the risk of being crushed by interest groups? The foreign minister: "There is no break in our China policy. It should be orientated towards interests and values. In this respect it should reflect a balanced relationship, and it should not get out of balance." The foreign minister has no understanding for the attitude of German business and industry, which has invested more than DM3 billion in China in the past two years and has started projects worth another DM3 billion in the first five months of this year. "I would have expected that German business and industry would clearly state their position in such a situation. After all, jobs are also involved." Kinkel clearly stated his disappointment with the representatives of German companies during a colloquium on "Globalization and Foreign Policy" in Bonn. However, t
he foreign minister does not assume that China will now cancel orders with German industry because of Bonn's human rights policy. "That would be very shortsighted. Trade relations are a two-way road." Kinkel also says that much has yet to be done by the European Union in its policy towards China.
He admits that the EU's common foreign policy still lacks coordination towards Beijing. However, Kinkel does not see the West as a plaything of China's interests. "It should not come to that," he said. But China is undoubtedly a large country that has represented its interests in massive fashion, and is a power in the international playground of politics and the economy that cannot be ignored. "The point here is not some sort of kowtow, but a sound and balanced policy that is neither quiet nor unnecessarily provocative." It is in this sense that Kinkel intends to appear in China. In no case will he let himself be humiliated.
