Macron’s cognac —only thing that went down smoothly with Xi
WORLD 09 May 2024 - 07:03
Politico carries an article about Chinese President Xi Jinping who handed French President Emmanuel Macron some wins during his state visit, but offered few meaningful concessions on trade and Ukraine, Caliber.Az reprints the article.
On Xi Jinping’s first day in Europe after five years away from the continent, French President Emmanuel Macron presented him with a highly symbolic gift: several bottles of France’s most exquisite cognacs.
It was not the most subtle of hints. China’s anti-dumping investigation into European wine-based liquors, largely targeting France’s cognac producers, is seen as retaliation for the European Union’s decision to open several investigations against Beijing on suspicions of unfair trade practices in sectors such as electric vehicles and medical device manufacturing.
In return, Xi offered his own sweeteners: a promise not to slap preemptive tariffs on French brandies and support for Macron’s “Olympics truce.”
But unlike Macron’s liquors, Xi’s offerings may not go down quite as well.
During the Chinese leader’s two-day state visit that kicked off Monday, Macron had hoped to soften Beijing’s stance on several key issues, including trade imbalances and the country’s “no-limits” partnership with Russia.
What Macron got was a tin-eared Xi, who either denied there were any problems, offered modest concessions that required very little sacrifice on China’s part, or outright misrepresented China’s involvement in Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The carrot and stick edition
On Ukraine, the Chinese leader reiterated not to deliver weapons to China and to “strictly control” exports of dual-use equipment to Russia — positions his country has already publicly outlined.
Xi essentially glossed over the West’s concern that China has helped keep the Russian economy afloat by supplying the country with consumer goods no longer available from Western markets due to sanctions. Then there’s the issue of China being accused of saying one thing but doing another when it comes to throwing a lifeline to belligerent partners like Russia and North Korea.
Xi used his strongest statement during the visit to take a veiled swipe at Washington and other Western nations who blame Beijing for propping up the Kremlin as it wages war on Ukraine.
“We oppose using the Ukraine crisis to cast blame, smear a third country and incite a new Cold War,” Xi said on May 6.
The reference to a “new Cold War,” Chinese Communist Party jargon typically used to castigate any geopolitical maneuvering by Washington disliked by Beijing, may touch a chord with Macron, who has sought to develop Europe as a strategically autonomous military and economic power independent of China or the United States.
At the end of Xi’s first day in Paris, the mood at the Elysée was cautiously upbeat, as several advisers saw glimmers of hope in talks particularly on Ukraine.
During joint statements to the press, Xi announced he backed the French president’s call for an “Olympics truce,” which Macron saw as an opportunity to “work toward a sustainable resolution [of conflicts] in the full respect of international law.”
But with Russia gaining advantage on the battlefield in Ukraine and reportedly gearing up for an offensive over the summer, talk of a truce during the Olympic Games sounds like wishful thinking given the reality on the ground.
According to Marc Julienne, a China specialist at the Paris-based think-tank IFRI, China’s goodwill on this issue is “no real gain” for France, as it’s something Beijing wants anyway.
“Support for the French president’s proposal of a truce during the Olympic Games is coherent with China’s backing of a cease-fire, without any action in that direction,” he said.
Driving a wedge
Macron has in recent weeks, argued for China and Europe to establish “a more balanced” trade relationship and on Monday tackled that topic head-on during a three-way talks with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Macron pointed to the reprieve on preemptive tariffs for French cognacs as a victory as well. He praised Xi “for his openness regarding the provisional measures on French cognac and his wish not to see them applied.”
But what Xi didn’t say is that he was against tariffs on French cognac full stop. Instead, China’s foreign ministry quoted Xi denying the “so-called ‘problem of China’s overcapacity.'”
Xi also may have managed to drive a wedge between Macron, von der Leyen and Olaf Scholz. The German Chancellor’s absence was the elephant in the room, as analysts speculated he may have not attended so as to not to risk feeding Beijing’s wrath on electric vehicles.
These realities make it easy for Xi to “dismiss” von der Leyen, foreign policy analyst Ulrich Speck noted.
“As long as both Scholz and Macron are cozying up to Xi, trying to deepen economic relations and tone down criticism on geopolitical issues, the messages von der Leyen is delivering are not very credible,” wrote Speck.
Caliber.Az
1
|
700 tunnel shafts found in Rafah, 50 cross into Egypt Israel informs South Africa at UN top court
17 May 2024 - 15:56
|
2
|
Uncertainty over Russian border guard withdrawal from Armenia Amid conflicting statements
18 May 2024 - 14:47
|
3
|
New Caledonia crisis mirrors Macron's hypocrisy on Azerbaijan France faces its own crisis
17 May 2024 - 17:20
|
4
|
Giant meteor seen lighting up skies of Portugal
19 May 2024 - 13:11
|
5
|
Azerbaijan sets priorities ahead of COP29 "Green" financing, ESG implementation
18 May 2024 - 12:13
|
Assad officials face landmark Paris trial over killing of student and father
20 May 2024 - 06:00
What von der Leyen’s campaign tour says about her priorities
Review by Euractiv20 May 2024 - 03:59
Political violence is on the rise in EU, driven by extremism and disillusionment
Analysts talk to Euronews20 May 2024 - 02:01
How are museums still justifying keeping stolen artifacts?
Bloomberg reveals20 May 2024 - 00:03
Techcraft on display in Ukraine
Analysis by War on the Rocks19 May 2024 - 22:00
Chinese state-backed company to launch space tourism flights by 2028
19 May 2024 - 20:01
Ukraine destroys another Russian ship
19 May 2024 - 18:01
Slovak PM Fico no longer in immediate danger but condition serious, deputy says
19 May 2024 - 17:40
Iranian president's helicopter makes hard landing on border with Azerbaijan
19 May 2024 - 17:25
Russia's forces shot down 9 ATACMS missiles, 61 drones overnight
19 May 2024 - 17:17
France mobilises police to regain control of New Caledonia airport road
19 May 2024 - 16:49
India doubles purchase of Russian diamonds
19 May 2024 - 16:26
Venezuela approves investment agreement with Türkiye
19 May 2024 - 15:58
Coup d'état thwarted in Democratic Republic of Congo
19 May 2024 - 15:30
Biden, Trump accuse each other of threatening democracy
19 May 2024 - 15:09
"Iran, Azerbaijan show a very strong joint political will today"
President Aliyev tells Raisi during meeting at the border/PHOTO19 May 2024 - 14:40
Russian oil refinery suspends operations after drone falls on its site
19 May 2024 - 14:14
Iranian ambassador: New page opened in relations with Azerbaijan
19 May 2024 - 13:52
Erdogan commemorates 105th anniversary of Turkish freedom struggle
Ataturk Memorial Day19 May 2024 - 13:29
Giant meteor seen lighting up skies of Portugal
19 May 2024 - 13:11
Azerbaijan, Russia discuss enhanced economic, transport cooperation at KazanForum 2024
PHOTO19 May 2024 - 12:51
Latvian Parliament speaker arrives in Azerbaijan's Fuzuli
PHOTO19 May 2024 - 12:35
Construction of Turkish Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant nears completion, director says
19 May 2024 - 12:21
Israel, Hamas suspend prisoner swap talks
19 May 2024 - 11:52
German chancellor warns against full-scale ground operation in Rafah
19 May 2024 - 11:23
China uncovers "multiple espionage cases" in space sector
19 May 2024 - 10:54
Latvian Parliament speaker pays official visit to Azerbaijan
19 May 2024 - 10:25
President Aliyev inaugurates “Zangilan” and “Shayifli” hydroelectric power plants
PHOTO19 May 2024 - 09:56
President’s aide discusses Azerbaijani-American partnership at US Institute of Peace
PHOTO19 May 2024 - 09:27
Germany's Bundesrat passes gender self-identification law
19 May 2024 - 09:00
Poland to spend over 2.3 bln euros to fortify eastern border
PM says19 May 2024 - 06:30
Kim's sister denies North Korea has supplied weapons to Russia
19 May 2024 - 04:23
Iran hangs two women as surge in executions intensifies: NGO
19 May 2024 - 02:20
US Army’s multidomain task force contributing to AUKUS
19 May 2024 - 00:15
Slovakia at pivotal moment after Robert Fico shooting
18 May 2024 - 22:10
Russia admits it can’t halt nighttime uncrewed surface vessel raids
18 May 2024 - 20:00
Palestinian resistance eliminates 15 Israeli soldiers in Rafah
18 May 2024 - 18:18
Slovak PM’s attacker pleads guilty before court — media
18 May 2024 - 18:08
White House not thrilled by Macron’s D-Day invite to Russia
18 May 2024 - 17:59
Poland to begin construction of Eastern Shield
18 May 2024 - 17:47