Advertisement
.jpg?itok=bzM7Gnn8&v=1721276120)
Opinion | Don’t expect big changes in France’s China policy, at least not yet
- With a divided parliament and economic interests at stake, Paris is more likely to keep promoting engagement with Beijing for the time being
Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
The France-China relationship, it is safe to say, has seen a number of striking plot twists. During the 19th century, France colonised parts of China, including a part of Shanghai. Later, in 1964, with the French empire in decline, it became the first major Western power to recognise mainland China’s communist government.
Advertisement
French President Emmanuel Macron has sought to emulate this approach, promoting continued engagement with China, even as the country has become arguably less autonomous and more dependent on the US, than it was during the post-war period. With the shock results of the July 7 election, is the status quo likely to shift again?
The quick answer is: probably not. Macron’s decision to try to maintain strong economic ties with China is, in addition to a bid for strategic autonomy, a reflection of business interests. China imports hundreds of millions of dollars of jewellery from France, as well as other luxury goods such as wine and cognac.
There is a high level of collaboration in the aeronautics sector, in particular with Airbus having a major foothold in the Chinese market. The same can be said of the nuclear energy sector, in which France has long played a role in furnishing China with technical know-how.
No matter who controls the French legislature, these interests will not go away overnight. Nor, for that matter, will Macron, who’s poised to remain president until 2027. As the pre-eminent authority in deciding the nation’s foreign policy, he can be expected to stay the course when it comes to cooperating with China.
Advertisement