Germany's Merz heads to Asia as security issues loom large

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz kicked off five-day tour of Asia on Monday, traveling to Singapore before his scheduled visits to Japan and South Korea . Merz is accompanied by an entourage of 30 senior businesspeople, including representatives of Germany's industry, tech and defense companies, and energy suppliers. At the same time, Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is visiting China . While the trips are not officially related, they both seem aimed at boosting Berlin's economic and security relationships at a time of geopolitical instability which threatens global supply chains. In Singapore, Merz is set to deliver a major foreign policy speech and meet Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.