Heberer Calls for Rethink of Germany-China Relations in New Book
Germany-China relations must move beyond “systemic rivalry,” argues sinologist Thomas Heberer in his new book and interview, urging dialogue, targeted cooperation and clearer rules.
Professor Thomas Heberer, a veteran sinologist, urges a recalibration of Germany-China relations in his recently published book and accompanying interview. Heberer draws on more than five decades of fieldwork in China to argue that treating Beijing as an outright enemy is counterproductive. His central message calls for renewed dialogue, selective economic and scientific cooperation, and a strategic partnership governed by explicit rules.
China is not a classical enemy, Heberer says
In the interview Heberer rejects the label of “enemy” for China as misleading and unhelpful. He notes that while Western policymakers increasingly speak of a “systemic rival,” that framing risks creating a new adversarial image rather than enabling pragmatic engagement. He argues Beijing has not shown intent to export an ideological revolution comparable to the Soviet past, and that cooler heads should avoid binary rhetoric.
Heberer highlights recent diplomatic signals as reason for cautious optimism, mentioning high-level exchanges that suggest a partial shift toward cooperation. He stresses that Germany should resist allowing political narratives to harden into exclusionary policies. For Heberer, separating legitimate strategic concerns from blanket antagonism is essential to maintaining constructive Germany-China relations.
Five decades in China shape Heberer’s perspective
Heberer’s conclusions rest on first-hand experience dating back to the mid-1970s, when he travelled and later worked in Beijing during a period of dramatic change. He recalls living through the tail end of the Cultural Revolution and the early phases of Deng Xiaoping’s reforms, experiences that informed his view of China’s complex trajectory. Those decades of field research, he says, revealed both the extent of societal transformation and the limits of simplistic Western portrayals.
Heberer describes witnessing rationing and scarcity in the late 1970s, followed by an optimistic period of reform and social opening. He frames that history as central to understanding contemporary China’s priorities, governance style and public expectations. That long view underpins his plea to “think China anew” rather than rely on fixed stereotypes.
A development state, not a simple authoritarian model
Heberer proposes the term “development state” to capture China’s governing logic, arguing it better explains Beijing’s emphasis on modernization than labels such as authoritarian or autocratic. The development-state concept highlights a political elite committed to rapid economic transformation and social stability through centralized planning and selective market reforms. Heberer cautions that this model has strengths in mobilizing resources, but also structural drawbacks that generate new tensions.
He points to East Asian precedents — Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore — where state-led development preceded broader political liberalization at later stages. China’s model, he suggests, remains hybrid: market mechanisms operate under strong state direction, and private business plays a dominant role in employment and innovation even as the state reasserts controls when needed.
Economic muscle and mounting structural risks
Economically, Heberer portrays a country of striking technological prowess and lingering imbalances. He notes Chinese strengths in electric vehicles, batteries, artificial intelligence and robotics while warning of weak domestic demand, high debt levels and property-sector fragility. Rising youth unemployment among graduates and local government fiscal strain, he says, are consequences that could dampen growth and fuel social frustration.
These dynamics have practical implications for Germany-China relations: German industry both learns from and competes with Chinese firms, yet areas such as climate technologies, batteries and hydrogen present major opportunities for cooperation. Heberer urges pragmatic engagement to address global challenges where Chinese participation is indispensable, especially emissions reduction and the energy transition.
Policy recommendations for Berlin
Heberer sets out three core pillars for German policy toward China: sustained dialogue, intensified economic and scientific cooperation, and a strategic partnership under clear rules. He stresses that difficult topics — human rights, minority policies and market access — should be raised openly and on an equal footing, not avoided. At the same time, he sees room for concrete joint projects in climate technology, material science and research collaboration that require mutual trust and protective measures for intellectual property.
Heberer also warns against letting emotional or ideologically driven rhetoric obstruct pragmatic problem-solving. He calls on German leaders to balance principled critique with engagement that preserves channels for negotiation and reduces the risk of unintended escalation. For him, recalibrating Germany-China relations means designing cooperation that is both principled and practical.
Heberer’s book and interview offer a sustained plea for nuance: acknowledge China’s human-rights and governance issues while recognizing its economic importance and the limits of adversarial framing. His long experience on the ground provides the historical perspective he believes is missing from much contemporary debate.
The message to Berlin is clear: Germany-China relations should be shaped by careful strategic rules, open exchange on contentious topics, and selective cooperation where mutual gains and global needs align.
