Germany has proposed tightening its borders to some asylum seekers. But that compromise could leave neighboring Austria in a risky position. And they are threatening to retaliate. CGTN's Guy Henderson reports from Berlin.

Averting one crisis may simply spark another. If Germany's going to restrict its borders, says Austria, so will we.

SEBASTIAN KURZ AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR "We are prepared for all scenarios and are prepared to adopt any number of measures that are necessary to prevent any negative impact on our republic and the Austrian people."

So far, that hasn't deterred Germany's Interior Minister. Horst Seehofer says he wants migrant transit centers opened "as soon as possible" after Monday night's deal. That'll involve refusing entry to some asylum seekers at the Bavarian border. But Vienna doesn't want them either. Seehofer will head there on Thursday to try and ease Austrian concerns. That's if the deal stands. Because Merkel's other coalition partners - the center-left Social Democrats - are voicing big doubts about it.

SIGMAR GABRIEL GERMAN OPPOSITION POLITICIAN "We know that there must not even be a suspicion that a German Chancellor is open to blackmail. Seehofer blackmailed the government and he blackmailed Chancellor Merkel which is an unbelievable occurrence."

GUY HENDERSON BERLIN "Merkel's concessions were aimed at saving her fragile coalition government. They may yet lead to putting further strain on it. The fact that she was successfully bullied into it may also embolden her critics now. Both inside Germany's national borders and in other European capitals. Guy Henderson, CGTN, Berlin."