The dispute between France and Australia over the issue of nuclear submarines has become a seemingly endless drama series. Both the media and the melon-eating masses are waiting to see when this big melon will be eaten.
Let's start with the synopsis.
In September, the United States took Britain and Australia into a new defense agreement, "Aukus", saying that it would help Australia build nuclear submarines.
Of course, clear-eyed people can see that the United States is targeting China again, and it is hoping to "upgrade equipment" for the younger brother. But Australia has a nuclear submarine, and the whole western Pacific is not very assured, after all, Turkey and Australia are notoriously belligerent.
We often say that in the more than 240 years of history of the United States, only 16 years have not been at war, in fact, Australia is completely more than that, participating in almost all the international wars in modern history.
As a result, some ASEAN countries are also unhappy, which even caused contradictions within ASEAN against aukus.
Interestingly, france was the first to fry the wool.
Because Australia, after getting the commitment of Britain and the United States to build nuclear submarines, changed hands and tore up the agreement with France on the construction of 12 conventionally powered submarines, leaving France with a blood loss of $37 billion.
Moreover, the French side also said that the United States, Britain and Australia did not greet France in advance.
Good villains are allies, that's it? French President Macron has publicly condemned the United States, Britain, and Australia many times, and what "stabbing in the back" and "lying" have been used.
But Australia's claims are different, and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said more than once that Macron is fully aware.
Since then, around the question of "does Macron really know", France and Australia have been arguing for nearly two months.
At the sixteenth summit of the Group of Twenty (G20) leaders last weekend, Morrison and Macron, who had been fighting each other, met. Morrison took the initiative to come forward to show his kindness, but was met with Macron's cross-browed cold. Afterwards, Macron also told reporters, I don't have to think, I know (Morrison lied).
During the subsequent United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), Morrison also choked Macron, "I will not allow [Macron] to slander Australia." Nor can I put up with the stigma on behalf of australians. ”
Subsequently, on the evening of November 1, a private text message sent by Macron to Morrison was leaked, which was suspected to indicate that Macron had already known. The text message read, "Should I expect good news about our joint submarine ambitions?" Or is it bad news? ”
The French were naturally outraged. French media outlet Le Parisien reported that a close adviser to Macron revealed: "[France's] trust in Australia has been completely shattered." Disclosing text message exchanges between heads of state or government is a rather crude and unconventional trick. The French president "would never" disclose such communications. "It's not the kind of approach that could improve relations between France and Australia."
The French presidential office also said the act was "very disgraceful" and that the text message did not explain anything, only that Macron was "not clear about the extent to which the negotiations between the two sides went."
After the news was exposed, Morrison avoided talking about whether the text message was revealed by him.
In fact, such a private text message, if not revealed by Morrison, is really difficult for others to contact. But if Morrison did it, then as the supreme leader, this behavior is really a bit of a "schoolboy". In order to gain the upper hand in the war of words, it is not hesitant to disclose the content of the dialogue between the heads of state, is this something that a prime minister can do?
This text message will not only not help to resolve the contradictions between the two sides, but also further exacerbate the dispute.
It is worth mentioning that in the United States, which is also one of the initiators, but constantly "smoothing the hair" for France, US President Biden has repeatedly reiterated that he "does not know France does not know", and also admitted that the United States did not first confirm France's opinion when signing the agreement with Australia.
So, during the G20 summit, Biden and Macron held bilateral meetings, and the two clasped their hands and seemed to be ready to turn the page.
The U.S.-France relationship seems to be repairing smoothly, but the Franco-Australian relationship is getting worse and worse.
Is Morrison too stupid, or Macron too provocative?