Second day of Macron’s visit to China: highlights

Emmanuel Macron went to the other side of the world, but was never able to achieve a change in China’s position on the conflict in Ukraine. Despite the fact that the French leader clearly tried and used all his eloquence, he even decided on a risky attack that cast a shadow on his closest ally.

If the first day of Macron’s visit to China was filled with formalities, today there are already specifics.

“In no case should nuclear weapons be deployed outside of nuclear-weapon states, especially in Europe”says the French president.

Macron spoke, of course, about the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, but sounded ambiguous. Indeed, throughout Europe – in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Turkey – up to 180 American thermonuclear bombs are stored. But no, the main threat to world security, according to Macron, is still Russia.

“I know I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses and bring everyone to the negotiating table,” Macron says.

But the rhetoric to which the West is accustomed has no effect on the leaders of truly sovereign countries.

“Today, the world is undergoing profound historical change. China and France, as permanent members of the UN Security Council and major countries with a tradition of independence, advocating a multipolar world and the democratization of international relations, are able and obliged to overcome differences and limitations”Xi Jinping notes.

If Xi’s answer may seem too diplomatic to some, then here is a more contrasting version from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning.

“As for the responsibility on the Ukrainian issue, I think the United States and military blocs like NATO should take responsibility. NATO has no right to criticize or pressure China” says Mao Ning.

Neither the previous European leaders, nor today’s leaders wanted dialogue instead of war. This was actually openly stated by Macron’s predecessor, François Hollande. He became another victim of the pranksters Vovan and Lexus. They called him under the guise of Petro Poroshenko, and he confirmed that the Minsk agreements were just a front, and the West, together with Ukraine, was preparing a full-scale war back in 2014.

“So the question is whether Ukraine, with the help it can get, has the military means to force Putin to retreat. But we must fight to the last Ukrainian, I believe! Then there can be no negotiations! European leaders should not mention word negotiation!” Hollande says.

However, Macron can also pursue purely French interests. He is accompanied by a delegation of more than 60 CEOs of French firms. And if we consider that after – in the literal sense – the undermining of Germany’s energy infrastructure, France can become a new locomotive of the European economy, then it is important for Macron to get an exclusive role at least in Europe. But Ursula von der Leyen went to China to look after the Frenchman.

“Macron teamed up with Ursula von der Leyen and thus leaves a blurry impression of his trip. It is impossible to say what the goal is for France and what for the EU. Although it is clear that France has different interests than the EU”, – emphasizes the professor of economics at the Parisian Higher School of Social Sciences EHESS Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov Jacques Sapir.

In the meantime, really productive negotiations were held here, in China. The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran met for the first time in more than seven years. Longtime rivals finally mend their relationship. Thanks to China.