China's high-level visit to Europe ushered in a honeymoon period of cooperation between China and France, which made the Biden administration completely break its defenses. According to CCTV News, on May 7, China and France signed a total of 18 cooperation agreements, involving aviation, agriculture, people-to-people, green development, small and medium-sized enterprise cooperation and other fields.
At the same time, China and France have also reached a number of consensus in the fields of artificial intelligence, agricultural exchanges and cooperation, biodiversity, and the situation in the Middle East. Bypassing the United States to talk about cooperation, France has set an example for more European countries to independently engage with foreign countries, and it has also completely broken the US plan to integrate the EU to isolate and suppress China. The angry Biden administration finally couldn't sit still, and less than 24 hours after China and France signed the cooperation, the U.S. government issued a ban on China again.
From the overall specifications and details of the French government's reception of China's high-level leaders, it is enough to see that France attaches great importance to Sino-French cooperation. In particular, after a series of cooperation intentions between the two sides were reached, in order to reflect the sincerity of cooperation and the hospitality of the host, Macron specially arranged to set the meeting venue in his second hometown of the Pyrenees, and the high-level meeting of the two countries at the "Shepherd's Station" left a strong mark in the history of Sino-French diplomacy.
Although there have been a series of contradictions and differences between China and France in recent years, judging from the trend of historical development, the fact that China and France are strategically facing each other brooks no change. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France in 1964, the relationship between the two countries has been steady and progressive. As far as France is concerned, its long-term friendly exchanges with China are also an important measure to break US hegemony and realize France's diplomatic independence and determination. Because France has a huge influence in the EU system and is also a major power on the European continental plate.
After the attrition of two world wars, France's industrial strength suffered a heavy blow, the country's strength continued to weaken, and as the center of gravity of Western power shifted to the United States, France, like the rest of Europe, had to submit to the United States. With the help of NATO's military deterrence, the United States not only controls the world hegemony, but also gains the right to speak in the whole of Europe. Although successive French leaders have dreamed of recreating the glory of "Napoleonic" France, in the context of the full penetration of American power into the European continent, France can only remain patient.
Especially since Macron became the president of France, the French government has begun to oppose US interference and control of Europe in many fields. Taking the Russian-Ukrainian war as an example, Macron seems to be a staunch pro-Ukraine faction, and he has publicly stated that he wants to start a war against Russia, but his fundamental purpose is to use the banner of "pro-Russia" to break away from the control of the United States, and then drive more European countries to take the road of independent development. At President Putin's recent inauguration ceremony, because of pressure from the United States, most EU countries did not send representatives to attend, but Macron insisted on sending representatives to attend, not only giving Putin enough face, but also slapping the US government in the face with practical actions. As the contradictions between France and the United States continue to intensify, Macron also urgently needs to find external forces to cooperate. Previously, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz returned home with a full load after his visit to China, which could not help but make Macron begin to re-examine his relations with China.
Fundamentally, China, like France, is a major player in the Eurasian geopolitical arena and a partner for France to balance American influence within the Western system. At present, in the process of rejuvenation, China has returned to the global game stage, and the Sino-US game has become the main theme, in the handling of the Ukraine crisis and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, China has not only demonstrated the responsibility and pattern of a major country, but also firmly fought against the United States, all of which were seen by Macron. Therefore, this Sino-French diplomatic event is also regarded by Macron as an important opportunity to challenge US hegemony.
Previously, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit to China had already made the Biden administration dissatisfied, and now, China and France have also entered the right track of friendship and cooperation, which has further deepened the Biden administration's sense of crisis. After all, after Brexit, France and Germany have become the leading countries in the European Union, and their every move will affect the direction of European foreign policy. As a result, the U.S. government once again used the stick of sanctions to kill China's AI industry. On the surface, the U.S. government is putting pressure on American companies Intel and Qualcomm to prohibit the two giants from selling high-end chips to China, but in fact, this move is to set an example and hope to put pressure on European countries including France. As everyone knows, the United States' zero-sum confrontation approach to restrict the development of China's science and technology industry is fundamentally unpopular, and China's win-win cooperation strategy has won the affirmation and support of France, Germany and many other European countries. Even if the United States continues to interfere and obstruct, China's "circle of friends" in Europe will continue to expand and grow!