Merz after trip to Asia: “It was worth it in several ways”

Merz returns from a trip to Asia “It was worth it in several ways” As of: October 31, 2026 • 12:56 p.m

Chancellor Merz was in Asia for five days. It was about doing business with a booming region, alliances against major powers, cybersecurity and defense. A break from German domestic politics, which, according to Merz, was worth it.

In the evening, Friedrich Merz stands on the roof terrace of a high-rise building in Tokyo's nightlife district of Shibuya. “Beautiful scenery,” he says as he looks at the skyline. The Chancellor gives a press conference in front of the spectacular view of the sea of ​​lights in the Japanese metropolis. They are nice pictures to take home from the man his critics often refer to as a foreign chancellor.

Japan is a close partner of Germany, says Merz. It's worth having conversations, "even though we're many thousands of kilometers apart geographically. We really are neighbors in many ways." It was a good visit to Japan. He assumes that things will be no different in South Korea in the following days.

On his trip to Asia, Chancellor Merz called for an alliance for compliant global trade. more

The Chancellor's message on his longest foreign trip to date: Germany is playing on the world political stage and wants to counter major powers such as China and the USA with a network of medium-sized partner countries with the same interests. “Because we have understood: Together we can shape a world that doesn’t just give space to the biggest and the strongest,” says Merz.

This week he flew for around 35 hours in the government plane, to Singapore, Tokyo and finally to Seoul - three capitals in the Indo-Pacific region, which is of great importance for Germany: geopolitically, strategically and, above all, economically. Merz explains: "40 percent of world trade takes place in this region. 60 percent of the large, innovative companies are in this region."

The reception is extremely friendly everywhere. The Chancellor speaks with business representatives, gives speeches, woos investors, visits research institutions and pioneering companies. For example, Kyoto Fusioneering, which develops components for future fusion power plants.

He wants to conclude an agreement with the Pacific region and thus apparently set a counterpoint to US actions. more

It's five days of rushing to meet appointments despite jet lag. Handshakes, photos, guided tours - always accompanied by a high-ranking business delegation, including CEOs of DAX companies - and lots of demonstrations of cutting-edge technology. Also at a university in Seoul at a laboratory for quantum nanotechnology - basic research, atoms, molecules.

Merz listens to the scientists and tries out experiments himself. As he walks out of a lab, the Chancellor says, "This is largely beyond my ability to understand anything."

The Chancellor visits Singapore, Japan and South Korea - the Federal President is a guest in China. more

His journey also deals with the topics of security and defense. In the talks with the leaders of Singapore, Japan and South Korea, China always plays a central role - the dominant great power that worries everyone - economically and militarily.

Russia is also close. The German head of government agreed on stronger cooperation in the defense sector with South Korea. It's also about cybersecurity.

The Chancellor then travels to Panmunjon on the heavily secured border between South and North Korea, which has separated the two countries since 1953. He even stood with his feet on North Korean territory "because there is a building there that is right on the border," says Merz.

North Korean soldiers are fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine - another important topic in the Chancellor's talks with the governments in Singapore, Japan and South Korea. Merz says he also takes this with him as support in the Coalition of the Willing - an association of countries that support Ukraine in the fight against Russia - to which he invited people to Berlin in November. He promises: "We will not weaken in our commitment to Ukraine."

At the end of his trip to Asia, the Chancellor visited the demarcation line between South and North Korea. more

German domestic politics is far away in Asia. Pension, the coalition with the SPD, the successor to Frank-Walter Steinmeier in the office of Federal President. In Singapore, Seoul and Tokyo it's about world politics, free trade and artificial intelligence. “I can say it was worth it in several ways,” says the Chancellor.

On Monday, the worldly foreign chancellor will go back to the Berlin office. He will then no longer be able to avoid the vexing issue of succession to the Federal President.

The CDU apparently doesn't want to be left in charge when it comes to filling the office. more

This topic in the program: tagesschau.de | From Singapore to Panmunjon – Review of the Chancellor’s trip to Asia | October 31, 2026 | 8:35 a.m