What Macron was looking for in China

Macron needs to succeed against the backdrop of French protests against pension reform. With no success in domestic policy yet, he cannot do it without foreign policy.

Macron's visit to Beijing is a chance for him. For us, too, but also a number of risks. Macron is not going alone - he invited European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The goal is clear - Macron wants to speak on behalf of Europe. China is more than happy with this - it does not like the collective West and the fact that our war with Russia has actually strengthened it for the first time in many years. China is sure that a competition with the United States is unfolding, but it does not want it to be a competition with the collective West. The less solidarity within the West, the better for China.

“Macron wants to speak on behalf of Europe. China is more than happy with this - it does not like the collective West and the fact that our war with Russia has actually strengthened it for the first time in many years”

As well as for Putin, in fact. And for us, it is exactly the opposite. Of course, it is possible and even necessary to talk to Xi about geopolitics. Realizing that China understands the language of balance of power and no other. Against the backdrop of the Taiwanese president's trip to the US and a meeting with the Speaker of the House with China's predictably irritated reaction, Macron has a choice: play the "separate European" card or the "Western" card. From trade to security, as Australia chose American nuclear submarines over French ones, and this is where the US, Australia, and the UK began to cooperate to contain China, at least formally. So the temptation to play the "European" card is there. It will not be possible to talk to Xi for hours, as with Putin. And that's a good thing, too.

Source

About the author. Pavlo Klimkin, diplomat, former Foreign Affairs Minister of Ukraine

The editorial staff do not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.