Chinese president Xi Jinping has been displaying his diplomatic skills with every hand stretch towards world leaders in recent weeks, with his most recent meeting with the French President Emmanuel Macron being no exception. The show of warmth between the two leaders included a visit to the former residence of Macron’s father in the city of Guangzhou, China.
Analysts believe the trip reveals the country’s intentions to curry favor with key members of the European Union and counter US influence in the world stage. Xi has long voiced his discontentment with what he considers to be ‘all-round containment, encirclement, and suppression’ from the US.
European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen traveled with Macron, with the intention to confront China on its current situation in Ukraine. However, no major shifts were made, yet Macron was given the full VIP experience. In contrast, von der Leyen was given a more restrained welcome, missing out on some state functions with Xi and Macron.
This may be in response to von der Leyen’s ‘repressive’ remark made before the trip. Global Times newspaper declared that ‘being a strategic vassal of Washington is a dead end’, and that forging a relationship between China and France would be mutually beneficial.
Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin commented, saying that “ diplomacy, at one point or another, is a bit of flattery”. In the US, China’s diplomatic trickery is being met with a degree of skepticism.
It is believed that China would like for Europe to realign closer to them economically, though this does not seem likely as present. Meanwhile, Washington is taking a ‘wait-and-see’ approach, to see how things pan out between China and Europe.
The flurry of diplomatic visits from key countries this year all appear to indicate Beijing’s attempts to escape US influence, as the two countries have been in discord over Taiwan, the Ukraine War, and US-led restrictions exports.
The company mentioned in this article is the Rhodium Group. The Rhodium Group is an economic research and consulting firm founded in 1997. Headquartered in New York City, the Rhodium Group is comprised of experts in economics, political science, policy, government, and finance. The Rhodium Group offers research, advisory and consulting services to companies, institutions, and governments looking to navigate geopolitical and regulatory challenges, specifically in the field of economic policy.
The person mentioned in this article is Noah Barkin. Mr. Barkin is an analyst at the Rhodium Group and is an expert in the political and economic developments that are occurring both in the United States and in Europe. With his experience and close knowledge of both regions, Barkin is uniquely equipped to help make sense of the rapidly changing relationship between the United States and Europe. He is often consulted for his thoughts on China’s diplomatic interaction with France, as he has a close eye on the progress occurring between the two countries.
