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Most Germans consider China a global threat

Olaf Scholz (SPD) cannot convey best wishes from the majority of Germans in Beijing.

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Most Germans consider China a global threat

Olaf Scholz (SPD) cannot convey best wishes from the majority of Germans in Beijing. Shortly before the Chancellor left for a short visit to China, almost two-thirds of Germans considered the Far Eastern dictatorship to be a global threat. 63 percent of respondents “definitely” or “rather” agree that China “currently poses a threat to world security.” This is the result of the Germany trend from Infratest Dimap on behalf of ARD "Tagesthemen" and WELT.

The majority agrees with demands that have been put forward in the traffic light coalition by Green Party leader Katharina Dröge. The Chancellor's visit should not be "a purely courtesy visit with business support," said Dröge on RTL / n-tv. Rather, Scholz must find "very clear words" about human rights in China.

In terms of content, 68 percent of citizens say no to the statement that when dealing with China, representing German business interests is more important than fighting for human rights. Almost half, 49 percent, even want to “reduce” economic cooperation with China. The majority's distance from the Chancellor's line is shown most clearly by the fact that 69 percent oppose the participation of the Chinese Cosco group in a Hamburg port terminal, which Scholz pushed through.

Russia is considered even more dangerous than China. A total of 86 percent of those surveyed believe that Vladimir Putin's regime is a threat to world security, with 56 percent even "definitely" agreeing with this statement. Nevertheless - despite the unabated war of aggression against Ukraine and despite the targeted destruction of residential areas and civilian infrastructure - a majority now hopes for diplomacy: 55 percent, which means an increase of 14 percentage points compared to the last corresponding survey in June, believe that " diplomatic efforts to end the war would not go far enough".

At the same time, feelings of togetherness towards the attacked Ukraine are dwindling. Not even half believe that it is “a partner for Germany that you can trust”. Compared to March, agreement with this statement fell by 16 points to just 47 percent.

On the other hand, approval of German arms deliveries to Ukraine has hardly changed. 41 percent think they are “appropriate”, 21 percent do not go far enough. A total of 68 percent also believe that the current sanctions against Russia are correct or should be tightened. However, the concern that Russia will attack other countries in Europe after Ukraine is now somewhat less widespread than in March shortly after the start of the Russian attack: it has fallen by eight points to 61 percent.

Worries about Corona have become even smaller. Only 31 percent (minus eleven points compared to October 2021) fear that the number of infections will soon increase significantly again. Conversely, fears about migration are growing again. Meanwhile, 53 percent fear that “too many people from other countries are immigrating to Germany”. And compared to the previous month, the proportion of those who are worried that they will no longer be able to pay their bills due to sharply rising prices rose by nine points to 66 percent in November. Just as many respondents are concerned that climate change is “destroying our livelihoods.”

Little has changed in the popularity of German politicians compared to the previous month. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) is still at the top with 46 percent. Behind her party friend, the second-placed Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (38 percent), is Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) in third place with 37 percent.

In the Sunday question for the federal election, the Union remains at the top with an unchanged 28 percent. Behind them, with 19 percent each, are the Greens, which have remained constant, and the SPD, which has increased by two points compared to the previous month. The rise of the AfD has not continued: its value falls by one point to 14 percent. The FDP also lost a point (six percent), while the left remained at five percent.

For the representative Germany trend, Infratest Dimap surveyed a total of 1,307 citizens entitled to vote in 854 telephone and 453 online interviews from October 31 to November 2. The error tolerance is between two and three percentage points.

"Kick-off Politics" is WELT's daily news podcast. The most important topic analyzed by WELT editors and the dates of the day. Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, among others, or directly via RSS feed.

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