On Wednesday, President Emmanuel Macron of France wrapped up a three-day state visit to China aimed at improving ties between Europe and the Asian giant, with no apparent breakthrough.
The French leader tried to put himself forward as the standard-bearer of the “great rejuvenation of Sino-European cooperation” – paraphrasing one of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s maxims, his dream for “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” But he likely failed in his bid.
Despite all the diplomatic trimmings and a rather flattering approach, Macron actually offered his Chinese counterpart little prospect for progress in relations. His finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, reaffirmed during the trip that Paris would scrutinize Chinese investments in an attempt to protect France’s high-tech sector. More important, the French president delivered remarks on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that could not but cause uneasiness in Beijing.
Sino-European routes
Macron said France was ready to join the BRI, Xi’s signature project designed to connect East Asia with Europe and Africa through a string of land- and sea-based infrastructures. He also presented his country as a possible driver of Belt and Road in Europe.
China’s grandiose plan is a divisive issue within the European Union. Major EU countries are basically wary of Beijing’s intentions, while smaller members are eager to see Chinese funds and investments flow in their economies.
However, Macron reminded his interlocutors that the ancient Silk Road was never only Chinese, but a Sino-European trade route. He pointed out that, by definition, New Silk Roads could not be “one-way.” This meant he and other EU leaders expected to cooperate with China on an equal basis in their development, and according to a principle of reciprocity.
The European bloc has always maintained that BRI transport links will have to be set up in accordance with international standards for financing, environmental protection, labor conditions and tendering procedures. The problem is that the EU and China have different rules as far as their development policy is concerned.
Fears of China’s neocolonial expansion
In a speech in Xian, the eastern end of the ancient Silk Road, Macron harked back to the French colonial experience in Africa to urge the Asian powerhouse not to turn the BRI framework into a new form of hegemony. In his view, host countries along modern-day Silk Roads must not become China’s vassals, but active partners in their realization.
Macron’s argument reflects widespread fears that China’s BRI strategy is nothing but a modern version of the ancient Chinese tributary system. Beijing’s debt-trap diplomacy is seen as the staple of this neocolonial architecture, with the Chinese government using development loans to gain control of poor countries’ natural resources and infrastructure.
This vision rejects the idea that Chinese help to struggling nations comes with no strings attached. China’s borrowers, or “tributary states,” are indeed forced to align with its policies, recognize its trade and investment standards and, if insolvent, agree to debt-for-equity swaps.
Even Pakistan, a traditional friend of Beijing, has started questioning Chinese terms under the BRI project. Last November, a Pakistani official was quoted as saying by local media that his government would block China’s plan to build a hydropower dam in the north of the country. Muzammil Hussain, chairman of Pakistan’s Water and Power Development Authority, emphasized that Chinese conditions for financing were not doable and were against Pakistan’s interests.
In the Western camp, Australia has come out with similar accusations. Denouncing China’s funding of “white elephant” infrastructure in Pacific island nations, Australian International Development Minister Concetta Fierravanti-Wells said on Wednesday that Chinese financing in the area “often had less than favorable terms”, meaning that these Pacific countries risk handing over their sovereignty to Beijing if they do not repay their debt.
Macron expressed the same concept during his China tour, even if he put it in more general terms and in a more cryptic fashion than the Australian minister. The French president, like other EU leaders, does not want Xi’s “China Dream” to become the mere expansion of Chinese influence around the globe.
In this regard, it comes as no surprise that the European grouping is concerned about Beijing’s courting of EU member countries in Central and Eastern Europe through BRI loans and investments.
France was a colonialist during the 19th and 20th centuries and had the blood in their hand in the exploitation of the Vietnames people during the colonization of Viet Nam until they were defeated in Dien Bien Phu in 1954 by Vietnamese people. So it is totally ridiculous and hypocrite to see France visited China and talked about international standards, environmental protection, labor conditions, etc.
Now, we are in the 21st century, the Western countries and its racist partner in crime like Autralia just can’t stand to see China with different political system and non-white to take the lead in BRI by making a soundbite like they were the good guys!
you look to be on Beijing’s pay(T)roll
It’s not as simple as that. Blood is on everyone’s hands. Every empire to have ever existed from Asia, to the middle east to the west.
It is over simplistic to think that the west should now bow to China’s rise because of its particular part in past wars.
It is absolutely right that the west will seek to insure that China will be counter balanced in its rise and to make cooperation a key element.
To think otherwise is frankly dangerous.
He might question the strategy but is willing to sign up as long as the strategy is modified to benefit France.
what everyone fails in there loud mouth comments is the fact ,that the same forces that are behind the ""IMF; WORLD BANK"" WALL STREET; CITY OF LONDON ARE THE SAME FORCES BEHIND THE SILK ROAD.THAT TERM IS JUST THE DIGUISE!! CHINAS RISE TO THIS POINT WAS ENGINEERED BY THEM. XI IS BUT THE TRUMP OF CHINA. A BRAZEN OUTSPOKEN AGENT OF THIS CABAL.
Henri Parmentier : something better. A boot polisher perhaps.
Is that the Illuminati, the Masons or the Knights of Malta?
Henri Parmentier
You should confine your comments to a critique of veracity of his post.
China seems to think the visit went well, and Macron said he will visit once a year.
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1084225.shtml
Can’t help but observe the colonial thinking of these BRI critiques. Essentially what they state is that ‘these developing countries are too backward and ignorant to look after their own interests. So creating development deals and accepting loans to develop infrastructure should somehow be beyond them at this stage as they cannot take responsibility for their debt.
Of course Europe is wary of the Communist Chinese intentions.
Look at Tiananmen Square.
Look at Tibet.
Look at HK.
Look at NK.
Look carefully at the lifestyle of the poor old average Chinese citizen.
These folk live a life of virual slavery, and governmental restrictions that Europeans would never like to see revisted on themselves.
Anybody, who is aware of the Chinese regimen’s modus operandi, would be downright frightened of such a creepy inhuman regime.
Very good you are almost there. Now if you Western leaders would get you collected head out of your asses and stop listening to the global warming fraudsters you realize the China make preparations for the grand solar minimum and securing trade routes to air is the least affected as the earth starts to cool of the next 12 years and the northern hemisphere becomes less productive Due to serious crap failures as a result of global cooling.
at the end of the day, all questions are BS, smoke and screen, and only one question that really matter to the west, whats in it for me
Stuart Budgen Who is stopping the west from seeking parity in the project or any venture in the BRI? Ultimately, it will be up to the host country to decide for themselves.
Ravindra Nath Kaul Ops, sure India’s neighbours are all very much in love with India. Please, not until you stop peeing all ober the place.
Look at the countries that have been colonised. What have their colonial masters left them after their theft and plunder? Why should they be looking towards China for investment ?
> 13 Jan 2018
China is a fast learner
And the Peace Loving World would love China
IF
Its Words Deeds and Actions align with the modern
civilised World with no hidden agenda
OR
Worse motives to intend to conquer and rule the World
like what its Yuan Dynasty operators once attempted to
do
GOD BLESS ALL PEACE LOVERS
.
I’d agree that you can find examples of it. I disagree that it is a viable assumption by which international relations and development can occur in the modern world.
China prepares for trade war
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/china-prepares-trade-war-osvaldo-coelho/