criticism of Merkel's government, which is seen as weak on China, is growing in Germany

From an article that appeared on today's Nikkei newspaper page 3 entitled, "Germany turns its dependence on China to a new level, cooperating with Japan and other nations for Asia policy.
" Berlin=Jun Ishikawa."
In the background is distrust of China.
Germany has drawn up an Asian strategy with China at its core, and Chancellor Merkel has visited China almost every year.
China is Germany's largest trading partner, accounting for about 50% of foreign trade in the Indo-Pacific region.　
However, hopes that China will become an open market along with its economic growth have been disappointed, and German companies that have set up shop in China have been forced to transfer their technology to China.
Talks on an investment agreement between the European Union (EU) and China to rectify the injustice have also stalled, and concerns have grown.　
Against this backdrop, human rights issues such as the enforcement of the Hong Kong National Security Law and "re-education facilities" in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region have also emerged.
As the differences in values with China are highlighted, criticism of Merkel's government, which is seen as weak on China, is growing in Germany.　
The new guidelines are notoriously harsh on China, for example, pointing out the countries' excessive debt in China's "One Belt, One Road" regional economic zone plan.
The new guidelines also point out that the law's strength, not the strong direction, must be the deciding factor in the rules-based order," it said.　
Across Europe, relations with China are also turning a corner.
The EU has discussed a new strategy for China as a "competitor" in 2019.
The shift from "euphoria to a sober policy toward China" (Patrick Kellner of the German Institute for World Affairs and Regional Studies) is underway, with trade and technological caution at the forefront.　
Based on these guidelines, Germany will cooperate with France in formulating a Europe-wide strategy for the Indo-Pacific region.
By working with Europe's whole, Germany aims to enhance its voice and exert its presence in the growth market.　
The U.K. and France have begun to shut out Huawei from the next-generation communications network (5G).
By the beginning of September, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited France, Germany, and five other countries to improve relations. Still, criticism of human rights issues erupted, and this resulted in a noticeable gap in relations.　
The fact remains that China, which continues to grow, is an important partner for Germany and Europe.
However, the traditional honeymoon between the two countries is coming to an end as differences in values lie inexorably between them.
* Concerning the previous chapter, I am convinced that their advice to NHK that we should learn from Germany is in response to the fact that 'Germany has drawn up its Asian strategy around China, and Merkel has visited China almost every year.' Japan's primary demand for learning from Germany was China itself.