May 5th 2024.
The beautiful city of Paris was abuzz with the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who embarked on a three-country visit to Europe on Sunday. However, the continent was divided in its opinions on how to handle Beijing's growing power and the ongoing rivalry between the United States and China. On one hand, European car manufacturers were struggling to compete with subsidized Chinese electric vehicles, while on the other hand, there were concerns about Chinese spies infiltrating European capitals. Moreover, China's continued defense trade with Russia caused worry among those who support Ukraine and fear that the Russian army may not stop at just one country.
Despite these concerns, Europe and China share a strong economic relationship, with EU-China trade estimated at a staggering 2.3 billion euros per day. It was evident that President Xi was determined to strengthen and deepen ties with European leaders after a long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first stop on his trip was France, where President Emmanuel Macron has been advocating for Europe to have more economic and strategic independence from other global powers. From there, Xi made his way to Serbia and Hungary, both of which are known to be friendly towards China and have close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. These countries have also received significant Chinese investments.
The visit of President Xi was closely monitored by the United States, as it looked for any signs of Europe's wavering support for its key foreign policies. At the same time, there was growing uncertainty in Europe about the future support of the US for its trans-Atlantic allies. As Xi arrived at Orly Airport in Paris, he was greeted by French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, while outside, there were protests by groups demanding that France put pressure on China to respect the rights of Tibetans and Uyghurs. In fact, on the previous day, activists had attempted to display a banner under the Arc de Triomphe, and protests were held around the city as Xi's plane landed.
The following day, President Macron welcomed Xi with all the formalities of a state visit. The two leaders also met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who, along with Macron, stressed the need for fairer trade policies and for China to use its influence over Russia to help end the conflict in Ukraine. The EU had launched an investigation into Chinese subsidies last fall and was considering imposing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
China has maintained neutrality in the Ukraine conflict, but its refusal to label Russia's actions as an invasion has raised suspicions. Moreover, there have been accusations that China is aiding Russia in its weapon production. As President Xi's trip continued, all eyes were on the outcomes of his meetings and the impact it would have on the complex dynamics between Europe, China, and the US.
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