{
  "id": 17375666,
  "title": "Commentary: Cosying up to Trump and Xi won't help, but rather allies",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/kommentar-gegen-trump-und-xi-hilft-kein-anbiedern-sondern-verbundete",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-31T09:33:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/meinung/kommentare/kommentar-gegen-trump-und-xi-hilft-kein-anbiedern-sondern-verbuendete/100266175.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Friedrich Merz, the Chancellor, recently visited Asia, stopping in Singapore, Tokyo, and Seoul. During his trip, he emphasized the need for middle powers to unite against major powers, citing the US and China as examples. Merz noted that the US is redefining its foreign economic policy and interests, and suggested that others should do the same. He promoted free trade, warning of emerging new world order and the need to reduce dependencies. Merz's strategic message was that middle powers must work together against the \"big and strong\".",
  "summary": "Friedrich Merz is taking a tougher approach against the USA and China - and his trip to Asia is once again showing where his strengths lie as Chancellor. But also his weaknesses.",
  "key_points": [
    "Merz explicitly states US is changing foreign economic policy, redefining interests.",
    "Merz emphasizes need for unity against \"Great and Strong\" to Middle Powers."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Merz’s call for unity among middle powers signals a shift toward collective strategic autonomy as Germany seeks to mitigate the unpredictable economic and geopolitical influence of the United States and China.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}