This dissertation explores the role of China experts and connoisseurs in shaping West German–Chinese relations during the transformative period of the long 1970s. While the diplomatic rapprochement between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Western countries is often framed as a product of high-level Cold War strategy, this project adopts a broader perspective. It shifts the focus from solely political leadership to the contributions of public intellectuals, scholars, and professionals with in-depth knowledge of China.

By examining figures such as Klaus Mehnert and other experts from disciplines like political science, Sinology, and law, the project investigates how they acted as mediators and helped build political, economic, and cultural ties between the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the PRC. In parallel, it analyzes how both state and private actors began to recognize the need for China-related expertise – and how such expertise was institutionalized during this time. The study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of international relations as not just governmental, but also transnational and knowledge-driven.