Jan van Aken, the leader of the Left party, urges chancellor‑candidate Friedrich Merk (CDU) to enlist China in peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
He told the T‑Online portal that “if Xi calls, Putin will come” and that this special relationship should be seen as an advantage for achieving peace in Ukraine, not a burden.
Merk is set to begin his first visit to China on Tuesday. Van Aken welcomed the trip but called it overdue, pointing out that the goal is to end the war in Ukraine as quickly as possible. He explained that China will not abandon Russia but has already indicated a willingness to mediate; therefore the chancellor must move toward China.
The socialist politician also called for a shift in Germany’s approach to China. He warned that it is unhelpful for Merk to launch accusations against China before the visit, especially when the Chinese government is seen as exploiting the dependencies of other states and asserting a “global shaping claim”. While condemning China’s human‑rights record, van Aken stressed that a stance based solely on demands and criticism would erode the chances for a more peaceful world – a chance that Germany urgently needs.
Van Aken suggested that Merk signal to China that it deserves a place in global politics, for example by supporting China’s calls to reform the International Monetary Fund. He criticized Western dominance in institutions such as the IMF and the UN Security Council, arguing that they are ill‑suited to solve world problems. “We must forge new paths” he said, noting that the West has systematically exploited the dependencies of other countries, though only Europe has reaped benefits. He ended by stating that the debate over Greenland is now over.
