On the move in France, the Chinese diplomat shines a light on Europe

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on August 25, 2020 in Rome, Italy. Yara Nardi / Reuters

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4 min

Before continuing his European tour in Germany, the head of Chinese diplomacy, Wang Yi, was in France. He took the opportunity to share his vision of the state of the world, to look soft at Europe and to criticize the Americans.

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The “ Uyghur genocide ” graffiti   on the facade of the IFRI (French Institute of International Relations) had been quickly covered up, the few demonstrators removed by the police to make room. In front of selected guests with a fine comb, Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign ministry , invited the Europeans to unite with China against "  the appalling virus of the confrontation, the rejection and the unilateralism  ".

After months of very offensive diplomacy and pinned down by Washington, the Beijing envoy has turned a soft eye to Europe. However, in a statement released earlier this Sunday, Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian had expressed “France's  serious concerns about the deterioration of the human rights situation in China, in particular in Hong Kong and Xinjiang  ”. But in his speech, Wang Yi brushed aside all criticism.

"  Building a better world  "

Beijing therefore seems to play appeasement, but asked about the repression of Uyghurs and the stranglehold on Hong Kong, Wang Yi did not hide his annoyance: "  This is internal affairs, hammered the minister, and the China will not allow any foreign interference  ”.

I cannot hear both that China is a great civilization and that it wants to come closer to Europe and not show the solidarity of Europeans with repressed citizens.

Nathalie Loiseau, MEP LREM

Heike schmidt

The United States, in the eyes of the Beijing envoy, wants to build a new "  iron curtain  " and seeks to portray China as a rival. According to him, Washington would try to drag Europe into this new Cold War with China.

Wang Yi's message to his “  European friends  ” is therefore to urge Europe to be “  on the right side of history to build a better world  ”. China seeks to establish an "  equal dialogue  " with Europe, a "  force majeure  ", as assures Wang Yi who considers possible the conclusion of a Sino-European agreement on the investments by the end of the year.

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  • China
  • France
  • Diplomacy
  • Wang yi

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