euro|topics - A Chinese headache for French diplomacy

04/07/2009

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Main focus of Wednesday, April 23, 2008

A Chinese headache for French diplomacy

The tension between Paris and Beijing hasn't stopped building since the Olympic torch visited Paris and was met with violent protests. Ever since, the French government has made gestures of appeasement in an attempt to diffuse the crisis. What stance will France develop toward China as the Olympics approach?

Süddeutsche Zeitung - Germany

Nicolas Sarkozy must finally make up his mind to adopt a clear stance regarding China, Gerd Kröncke writes. "France's president promised at the beginning of his term in office a year ago that there would be a return to higher moral standards in foreign policy. We haven't seen much of that in his relations with China so far. He's been prevaricating about the question of whether to meet the Dalai Lama as his German counterpart Angela Merkel did on April 23. As far as Tibet's concerned, Rama Yade, his young state secretary in charge of foreign affairs and human rights, has appeared much more resolute. Sarkozy must now make it clear whose side he's on. He had no influence over Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoë's declaring the Dalai Lama an honorary citizen of the city, but the Chinese have no idea about these things anyway." (22/04/2008)

Le Soir - Belgium

"By presenting his late apology to handicapped athlete Jin Jing [she was mistreated during the torch relay in Paris on April 7th], new symbol of Chinese patriotism, French President Nicolas Sarkozy made himself out to be a weakling in the Chinese press and on the Internet. We can compare his attitude to that of Angela Merkel who, recently remained firm after having criticised Chinese human rights policy", writes Jurek Kuczkiewicz. "Combining development of economic exchanges with the promotion of human rights remains a challenge to which no one has yet found the magic formula. But it would be too easy to attribute the errors on this difficult path just to political leaders. Because the attraction of contracts is not only the whim of businessmen and political leaders: if there is someone who doesn't wear running shoes or t-shirts made in China, or who doesn't drive using gas that comes from countries that possess more hydrocarbons than democracy, he can throw the first stone..." (23/04/2008)

Le Figaro - France

Valerie Niquet, researcher at the French Institute for international relations (IFRI), explains why relations between France and China are especially tense, even though the Olympic torch was protested in other countries as well. "Behind the Olympics, the issues are very political, and even strategic. In this struggle, China needs complacent allies and it's as a disappointed lover watching France abandon its role as 'a friend of China', that Beijing deals with Paris today, which is not the case with Berlin, London or Washington. ... France will soon lead Europe for a six-month stint, and its 'bad example' could spread. In these circumstances, putting on the pressure is also a way of warning Paris against any temptation to be firm. ... [France] is a weak link. [Sarkozy's] tendency to change his mind leaves China hoping that there will by a policy reversal if the pressure is kept up." (22/04/2008)

» To the complete press review of Wednesday, April 23, 2008

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