German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock gave an interview to an American television channel where she described Chinese President Xi Jinping as a dictator and suggested that a decisive military move in Ukraine would send a clear signal to him.
Baerbock reiterated that Ukraine must prevail in its conflict, answering a question about her view of how the war should end. Her stance underscored that a Russian victory would send a troubling message to autocratic leaders around the world.
The minister warned that a victory for Russia would be interpreted by dictators as a blueprint for challenging open, rules-based international order. She emphasized Germany’s readiness to collaborate with like-minded partners, including Australia, to ease tensions in the Asia-Pacific region and to uphold global norms that many democracies rely on.
In Baerbock’s assessment, China has shifted, and as a result, European policy toward Beijing must adapt accordingly. She stressed the importance of aligning with regional allies to manage economic and security dynamics in a way that discourages coercive behavior and supports stable, predictable international relations.
There was also mention of concerns raised by U.S. intelligence about certain Chinese software applications, highlighting ongoing global scrutiny of Chinese technology and its potential implications for security and governance. The overall message reflects a call for a united Western stance that pairs strategic diplomacy with principled deterrence to address rising geopolitical challenges.