Abstract

The Russia-Ukraine crisis is a strategic opportunity for Germany. The shift in German defense policy is a result of both a critical reflection on the "naïve" era of its diplomacy and a fundamental reconsideration of its national security strategy, as well as an attempt to redefine the status of the country as an "economic giant but politically invisible man" after World War II. Although there is no risk of militarization in the short term, as some have feared, Germany's rearmament has its implications. Now Germany has the opportunity to challenge the US and other European powers and to provide lessons and impetus to Japan, which is constantly seeking greater "autonomous security capabilities." It is unclear what impacts Germany's shift will have on its relations with China. While China is more important than Russia to the German economy and its major enterprises, the pillars of Germany's post-war foreign policy of "change through trade" have fallen apart in the wake of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. We need to be particularly wary of western discourse of "China-Russia axis". Once China and Russia are portrayed as an "axis", then the US can "unite" with the EU and leave the EU to take responsibility for the peace in Europe, while they return to Asia.