Amnesty: Germany must stop aiding Chinese military
November 17, 2019
The German military plans to train 11 Chinese soldiers in 2020. In the light of protests in Hong Kong, Human rights group Amnesty International and activist Joshua Wong urged Berlin to take a stand against Beijing.
Image: AFP/Getty Images
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Citing a Defense Ministry paper, German newspaper Bild reported Sunday that 11 Chinese soldiers are to receive "superior training" or logistics training." In addition, one soldier is to be provided with special training in "press and public relations."
A spokesperson for the ministry said that Chinese soldiers regularly participate in educational events organized by the German military.
These include international officer courses as well as officer training courses offered at military schools, universities and military leadership academies.
"Our goal is to share our democratic values with citizens of other countries," said the spokesperson.
Criticism of the cooperation
Green party politicians and human rights activists called on Germany to cease its practice of training Chinese soldiers.
"The human rights situation in China is catastrophic," the spokespeople of the Green parliamentary group for human rights and security policy, Margarete Bause and Tobias Lindner.
"In the province of Xinjiang millions of people are the victims of total surveillance and cruel oppression. These are allegedly crimes against humanity, if not genocide,"
Amnesty International's arms and human rights expert Mathias John told Bild am Sonntag there was "no justifiable reason for Germany to help train the Chinese military,"
Referring to the current situation in Hong Kong, he added that "the German government should send a clear sign and immediately cease any military cooperation."
Well-known Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong also slammed Germany's involvement.
"It makes me furious that the German Bundeswehr is apparently helping to train Chinese soldiers," he told Bild. "Given the riots in Hong Kong, the defence ministry should have ended this programme long ago."
Hong Kong has been rocked by months of violent protests triggered by a proposed law allowing for the extradition of criminal suspects to mainland China, which was subsequently withdrawn. The city's police force has been accused of using excessive force to quell the protests.
This is a first: Soldiers with China's People's Liberation Army are training alongside Bundeswehr soldiers in the Bavarian town of Feldkirchen. Medical orderlies are participating in an exercise called Combined Aid 2019.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Weigel
Special delivery
This Chinese armored medical evacuation vehicle arrived by ship at the port in Hamburg, before being shipped to southern Germany and the Bavarian town of Feldkirchen. A total of 92 Chinese and 120 German soldiers are taking part in the Combined Aid 2019 exercise, along with 120 men and women in supporting roles.
Image: Bundeswehr / Oliver Wagner-Pikemaat, Constantin Gerk
No ordinary exercise
The armored medical evacuation vehicle and other Chinese army supplies were brought here to Feldkirchen, where the exercise is taking place until July 17. It's the first of its kind in Germany in the history of German-Chinese military cooperation. In 2016, 38 Bundeswehr medical orderlies took part in a previous exercise in China.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Weigel
Folding hospital
The exercise is simulating a fictitious UN deployment. The scenario: Cholera has broken out in several refugee camps, and there are many wounded people elsewhere. The Chinese soldiers brought their own mobile hospital along with them for the exercise. It can be pulled out and folded up like an accordion.
Image: Bundeswehr / Dirk Bannert
Ready in no time
"It's impressive how fast the mobile equipment from the Chinese People's Liberation Army can be set up," said a Bundeswehr report. "The modern Chinese tents are up and ready within a few minutes, and the medical equipment is put in place just as quickly."
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Weigel
Medical training
In the 2016 joint exercise, training focused on treating and providing for earthquake victims. China has plenty of experience in this area. Following earthquake disasters in 2008, 2010 and 2012, it had to take care of between 40,000 and 50,000 injured people each time. The 2019 exercise only involves medical staff, but it's being seen as a first step toward limited military cooperation.
Image: Bundeswehr / Dirk Bannert
Tricky translation
During the joint exercise, participants either speak English, or use an interpreter. The German army has said the exercise is helping to establish international cooperation, in preparation for a possible cross-border outbreak of disease.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Weigel
Strong together
The exercise "is also extremely relevant with regard to non-military disease prevention, as there is an international duty to protect the population against epidemics and pandemics," said the Bundeswehr. There's even a joint logo for Combined Aid 2019, incorporating the German and Chinese flags.
