President Macron and Chancellor Merkel jointly held a direct talk with President Xi via video conferencing on July 5 Monday, merely four weeks after the release of the G7 communique (VOA 2021 June 13).

As regards the two European leaders’ positions on the EU-China Investment deal at the meeting, though not reported by media of the West (e.g. Reuters 2021 July 5), the Chinese media said in this way:

“… Both French and German leaders echoed Xi’s pledge to expand the cooperation and consensus between China and the EU, expressing the support for the China-EU CAI (Comprehensive Agreement on Investment) …

“ … Merkel ,,, hopes the China-EU investment deal can be ratified soon …”  (Global Times 2021 July 5)

Furthermore, a bit surprisingly, “… Merkel told reporters one ‘positive development’ from Monday’s call was that Xi signaled China’s willingness to cooperate with the EU in Africa.  ‘This can only be a good thing if we discuss our respective standards and approach’ in Africa …… adding that collaboration could be coordinated through the Compact With Africa program that Germany launched during its presidency of the Group of 20 in 2017 …” (Bloomberg July 5, updated on July 6).

Why so?   The same Bloomberg article has offered a reason: “ … Merkel and Macron have sought to establish a more independent EU foreign policy from the U.S., especially when it comes to dealing with China and Russia …”

In a multi-polar mode, the post-USSR U.S. world dominance has been replaced by at least three power groups, namely, the US-UK-AUD-JAP  (US) Group, the Russia-China (RC) Group, and the France-Germany (FG)  Group.

Although both France and Germany are always dragged by the member countries of the New Hanseatic League (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Sweden) to improve the ties with China at the EU level, the FG group itself has never slowed down their own paces.   The reason is simply that they have already come to a conclusion that the 21^st Century is time for them to play a decisive role in world politics as leaders rather than followers behind the United States.   The FG Group has its own view, and the Iran nuclear deal is already a milestone on their way.

To the FG Group, China is definitely a friend on all fronts, ranging from trade and technology to cultural exchange and environment protection, whereas Russia is not an enemy.   To the FG Group, the RC Group is a leverage point whereon they can expand their global influence without the US Group. or even competitively against the US Group.    One of their major motivations to work on their own is the various irreconcilable differences among the EU members (readers are strongly advised to look into the leadership competition between FG Group and the New Hanseatic League, and also the deep north-south as well as east-west divisions inside the EU, but it is outside the scope here at China News).   

The July 5 France-Germany-China video summit is a clear signal that:

[1] the FG Group will cultivate their own relationship with China, however different from the US Group’s may be;

[2] Biden’s G7 contain-China or even anti-China plan will not work;

[3] in case of sharp conflict between the US Group and the RC Group, the FG Group will stay aside; and

[4] the FG-RC all-front cooperation, if not interrupted, will enable both Groups to surpass the US Group’s strength, and by that time they rule the world.

The opinions expressed are those of the author, and not necessarily those of China News.

Categories: Politics & Law

Tags: Angela Merkel, China, Emmanuel Macron, European Union, France, Germany, United States, Xi Jinping