Beckermann's Berlin Brief

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e136d132-97be-11dc-9e08-0000779fd2ac.html

Last week Brodie posted regarding Chinese threats towards the Canadian government following the Prime Minister’s meeting with the Dalai Lama. (http://www.igloo.org/brodieblog/thedalai).

The FT today reported that Germany is facing a similar backlash, after Chancellor Angela Merkel became the first German Chancellor to meet with the exiled leader in September. In fact, five days ago German Finance Minister Steinbrück was forced to cancel a trip to China after his Chinese counterpart refused to meet with him.   

Merkel’s political decision to meet with the Dalai Lama could now have real economic implications – as business leaders in Germany fear they could be excluded from public tenders, have more difficulty moving goods through customs and the withholding of investment permits by Chinese officials. Additionally, Germany’s ability to influence the People’s Republic on human rights issues has also been compromised as a result.

I’m certainly torn about what the Chancellor should have done – but what do you think? Should she have met with the Dalai Lama? Or should she have conceded to Chinese threats, which are now materializing as a result of her meetings?