Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to Paris on Monday, May 6th is not just to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and the People’s Republic of China with Emmanuel Macron. The Chinese president will also visit two other European countries: Serbia and Hungary. In Paris, Xi Jinping will emphasize the special relationship between France and China since Charles de Gaulle recognized the Republic. He will praise France’s strategic autonomy from the US. In Belgrade, he will condemn the NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy on May 7, 1999, which Beijing still uses to denounce American imperialism. In Hungary, he will highlight Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s efforts to weaken Europe from within and show friendliness towards Vladimir Putin.
Despite China’s claims that it wants a “strong Europe,” its true intention is to weaken Western democracies and undermine the transatlantic relationship and the European Union. In 2012, China launched the “17+1” summits to attract Central and Eastern European countries away from Brussels, but this initiative failed. Emmanuel Macron, aware of this, has been involving European leaders in his meetings with the Chinese president since 2019. France has no interest in aligning with China alone, as only a united Europe can have a chance to be heard by Beijing, albeit not in all areas.
Believing that China is neutral in Russia’s war against Ukraine is counterproductive. The informal alliance between China and Russia will be reaffirmed during Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to Beijing, his first trip abroad since his reelection on May 7. While China does not sell arms to Moscow, it provides equipment for Russia to upgrade its defense industry. Charles de Gaulle’s decision to recognize communist China sixty years ago was not an endorsement of its political system, but an acknowledgment of the world as it is. Today, as China’s global influence grows, this recognition remains relevant.
Engaging with China is necessary, but treating Xi Jinping as a friend is not the solution. Macron’s personal aspects of Xi’s visit, like the trip to the Hautes-Pyrénées on May 7, will not benefit France or Europe any more than Putin’s visit to the Fort de Brégançon in 2019. Macron must not be fooled by the personal gestures of his Chinese counterpart. It is crucial to maintain a balanced approach towards China and not be swayed by flattering gestures or personal connections. Only a united and pragmatic European stance can effectively engage with China on shared global challenges.
