Nothing pleases the French establishment more than to emphasize that France is a “great power” that can have an autonomous presence and strategy in the international arena and is not identified with the US or subservient to its policies.
Let us not forget that to a large extent France’s geopolitical choices, from its attempt – failed as it turned out – to retain part of the colonial empire, to the development of its own nuclear weapons, this sought to serve. This, after all, and the refusal to support the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Of course, the war in Ukraine led France to a forced association with the “Collective West” and the options of all-round support of the Ukrainian side, but the reflex that France is an important power, which moves independently and based on its own design and can to take initiatives.
This is what Xi Jinping seems to have invested in his “charm attack” on Emmanuel Macron during the latter’s visit to Beijing, a visit that also included Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, although she did not participate in all discussions.
The special treatment
In connection with Macron’s visit, the Chinese side organized a particularly warm welcome and an impressive display of hospitality. This was also seen in the visit to a Chinese tea ceremony in Guangzhou, the city where Xi’s father lived and which is also the capital of the Guangdong region, which is one of the great engines of Chinese economic development.
We note that such greetings to foreign leaders and such forms of hospitality are not common in China, but it is clear that the Chinese leadership wanted to underline in every way that it wants good relations with France, especially since it feels that the US is preparing the practical encirclement and very high pressure against her.
The very fact of the indirect exhortation to a greater distance from the US was addressed to that deep-rooted reflex of French diplomacy that historically insisted that France could have an independent foreign policy and even be an alternative pole in the confrontation between Russia and the US.
And of course, for its part, China above all seeks to be treated with respect, something to which Emmanuel Macron himself referred during the visit. China insists that Western countries must understand that they cannot tell other countries what to do in some things, but instead what is needed is mutual respect.
China insists that the Ukrainian issue cannot be an obstacle to Europe-EU relations
China seems to assess that European countries have begun to realize the cost to them of prolonging the war in Ukraine, and this makes them view the Chinese “road map” for peace in Ukraine in a more positive way. That is why they estimated that the Europeans did not deal with the Chinese proposal in a dismissive way like the Americans.
Essentially what he is suggesting to the European side is that at a time when very big changes are taking place, “which have not happened in the previous 100 years,” according to a characteristic recent aversion from Xi during his visit to Moscow, Europe must understand that is at a historic turning point. And this means that for the Chinese, Europeans must choose alignment and cooperation with China and not let “foreign interference” undermine that relationship.
EU does not want a break with China
At a time when the US has shown that, despite the great interdependence of its economy with China’s, it is willing to proceed with “decoupling” practices, as part of its overall shift towards dealing with China as a key strategic competitor, the Europeans have choose a different direction, which insists on maintaining important economic relationships. This was also seen during the visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Beijing.
Emmanuel Macron also went to China willing to expand economic relations between the two countries. After all, he was accompanied by representatives of the major French companies and it seems that important agreements were signed.
Airbus has signed a deal to build a new assembly line in Tianjin, doubling its production capacity in China and winning approval for 160 aircraft orders, mostly A320neos.
Alstom signed a deal to build a subway in Chengdu, while container shipping group CMA CGM agreed to work on biofuels with a Chinese group and the port of Shanghai.
The EU dilemmas
Regardless of its effectiveness, the “glamour attack” strikes real chords in European capitals, especially “old” Europe, as most enlargement countries primarily seek greater engagement with the US and even greater involvement in the war. And this is because the awareness that the American plan is not only aimed at strengthening Ukraine but also at a more comprehensive engagement with how the US now prioritizes its opponents, causes confusion and even concern in Europe, which sees a horizon where new geopolitical divisions will transform and increasing economic and social costs for European states.
