Text: Steamed buns
Editor|Jiang Yuchi
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preface
France's relations with the mainland can be said to be a kite in a strong wind, swinging, a few months ago it said that it would not be mixed with the Taiwan Strait, and now it wants to stab us in the back.
In the past few days, Tsai Ing-wen has traveled back and forth between many countries, just ate a "closed-door soup" in United Kingdom, turned around and arrived in Paris, and also visited the Senate of France, giving little Tsai Tsai a head.
And Tsai Ing-wen really treats herself as a dish, and in front of the French media, she actually equated Taiwan with the world, so what is the mainland's attitude towards this matter? Why has France's attitude changed?
From the "honeymoon period" to the "Cold War period": the "eventful autumn" of Sino-French relations
In the past, the cooperation between China and France in the fields of economy, trade, culture, science and technology was in full swing, and was regarded by the outside world as a "model of Sino-Western cooperation".
However, in recent years, with the profound changes in the international landscape and the changes in the balance of power between China and France, the former "honeymoon period" seems to be gradually drifting away, replaced by increasing friction and contradictions.
In recent years, the mainland's electric vehicle industry has developed particularly fast, and overseas markets have also done well, which has put a lot of pressure on France's traditional automotive industry.
In 2024, France will take the lead in pushing the EU to impose up to 45 on electric vehicles on the mainland. The 5% tariff is based on the fact that mainland companies enjoy government subsidies and pose unfair competition to European companies.
However, discerning people can see that France's drunken intention is not to drink, the real purpose is to suppress the rise of the mainland's electric vehicle industry and protect the interests of its traditional automobile industry.
The Ministry of Commerce of the mainland immediately adopted temporary anti-dumping measures against the EU's brandy, which further intensified the trade friction between China and France.
This "electric vehicle war" is not only a game of interests between China and France in the economic field, but also a strategic wrestling between the two sides in the direction of future industrial development.
France's "strategic autonomy" and "backsliding"
The Taiwan Strait issue has always been a sensitive topic in Sino-French relations. During his earlier visit to China, Macron mentioned that Europe should adhere to its strategic autonomy and not get involved in the Taiwan Strait issue.
However, France has made the opposite move. In October 2024, France allowed Tsai Ing-wen to visit, which is undoubtedly a serious provocation to the mainland's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and also a blatant test of China's bottom line.
France's "backsliding" has not only seriously damaged the political mutual trust between China and France, but also made the international community question France's "strategic autonomy".
France's "double standards" on electric vehicle tariffs and the Taiwan Strait issue have triggered strong dissatisfaction and resolute countermeasures from the mainland. The mainland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council have recently expressed their stance one after another, demanding that France not touch the mainland's bottom line and not interfere in the mainland's internal affairs.
For a time, Sino-French relations became very tense, as if they could erupt at any moment. The former "Sino-French honeymoon period" seems to have become a thing of the past, and the direction of relations between the two countries is full of uncertainty.
The development of Sino-French relations to the present situation did not happen suddenly, but was caused by the accumulation of various factors over a long period of time.
As the mainland's economic development is getting faster and faster, the economic competition between China and France is becoming more and more intense, and the friendly relations between China and France have now seen some shadows.
Some industries and enterprises in France, especially those that do not have an advantage in competition with mainland enterprises, have begun to worry about the rapid rise of mainland enterprises. They try to protect their interests through trade protectionist measures.
On the surface, this practice is aimed at maintaining "fair competition," but in fact it is aimed at hindering mainland enterprises from entering the European market and protecting the interests of domestic enterprises.
The Future of Sino-French Relations: A Choice at a Crossroads
Sino-French relations are now at an important fork in the road, and there are still many uncertainties about the future development. But there is no basis for cooperation between China and France. The two countries still have many common interests in trade, culture, and science and technology.
France is relatively independent in the EU, and it is not entirely United States in its China policy. If France can clearly understand the situation, proceed from long-term interests, strengthen cooperation with the mainland, and jointly respond to global challenges, Sino-French relations are still expected to return to the right track.
However, if France is obsessed with it, continues to challenge the mainland's bottom line on the Taiwan Strait issue and economic and trade issues, and tries to safeguard its own interests by suppressing the mainland, it will only harm its own interests in the end and will also push Sino-French relations to the brink of danger.
The most important thing is the rise of "anti-China" sentiment in France, which is a serious challenge to the development of Sino-French relations. In order to gain political capital, some politicians have constantly hyped up China-related issues and tried to portray the mainland as a "threat", which has cast a shadow on Sino-French relations.
The France government has also become increasingly tough on its China policy, trying to safeguard its own interests by exerting pressure on the mainland in the fields of economy, trade, science and technology.
If France can clearly recognize the general trend of world development, abandon the Cold War mentality and ideological bias, adhere to strategic autonomy, respect the core interests of the mainland, and move in the same direction with the mainland, Sino-French relations will be able to overcome difficulties and usher in a better tomorrow.
On the other hand, if France insists on acting as a "pawn" and is willing to be tied to the "anti-China chariot" by the United States, it will only harm its own interests in the end and push Sino-French relations into a dangerous abyss.
Epilogue:
The development of Sino-French relations has attracted the attention of the international community. Under the current volatile international situation, China and France should communicate more and exchange more, enhance mutual trust, properly handle differences, avoid misunderstandings and misunderstandings, and make China-France relations more stable and lasting.
After all, the world needs the continent and France to work together to overcome difficulties. The future of Sino-French relations lies in the hands of both sides.
It is hoped that France will make a wise choice and work with the mainland to jointly promote the healthy and stable development of Sino-French relations and contribute to world peace and prosperity.
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Information sources:
Phoenix.com October 18, 2024 Ignoring China's warning, France parliamentarians received Tsai Ing-wen in a high-profile manner, and United Kingdom urgently sent a "closed door"
National Business Daily 2024-10-10 China's Ministry of Commerce Implements Temporary Anti-dumping Measures on EU-Produced Brandy In the first half of the year, the volume and price of brandy imports have fallen