German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was shocked upon arriving in China on Monday when no officials were there to greet her, prompting her to depart with her delegation shortly after arrival.
A video of Baerbock’s arrival and her reaction quickly circulated on social media, though neither the German nor Chinese governments have issued official statements on the incident.
According to media reports, only airport security guards were present to receive Baerbock, with no Chinese officials in attendance.
This situation follows a previous diplomatic clash between Baerbock and China; in a 2022 interview with Fox News, Baerbock had referred to Chinese President Xi Jinping as a “dictator” while discussing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
This comment sparked outrage in Beijing, leading to a formal reprimand from China, which summoned German Ambassador Patricia Flor to express its dissatisfaction.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning had strongly criticized Baerbock’s comment at the time, calling it “extremely absurd” and an infringement on China’s dignity.
