Friedrich Merz begins five-day diplomatic trip to Asia

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is embarking on a five-day diplomatic mission to Asia, with scheduled visits to Singapore, Japan, and South Korea. The trip is intended to provide distance from domestic political pressures in Germany.

Simultaneously, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is conducting a state visit to China. These high-level travels occur as Germany evaluates and potentially recalibrates its foreign policy regarding China.