Abstract
Germany (West) started formal diplomatic relations with the PRC in October 1972. Before that date, sporadic contacts took place through various channels, e.g. through both countries’ respective embassies in Paris and visits by German parliamentarians in the 1960s. However, these contacts did not lead to the opening of formal relations due to two constraints on German foreign policy: its close relationship with the United States and its delicate relationship with the Soviet Union. The latter tempted some German politicians to toy with the idea of playing a ‘China card’. In the end, only the fact that the United States normalized its relations with China in 1972 allowed Germany to extend diplomatic recognition to the PRC.
The views presented in this paper are the private views of the author and do not necessarily reflect government policy.
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© 2000 Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited
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Rupprecht, K. (2000). Germany’s Policy towards China and the SARs of Hong Kong and Macau. In: Neves, M.S., Bridges, B. (eds) Europe, China and the Two SARs. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230599314_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230599314_4
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
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