China News Service, September 22, reported that the submarine contract disputes between France and the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom continued to escalate.

On the opening day of the United Nations General Assembly on the 21st, EU leaders continued to intensively express their solidarity with France and pointed out that the United States had lost the trust of the transatlantic alliance.

In order to express its dissatisfaction with the United States, the EU may postpone the meeting of the US-EU Trade and Technology Committee on the 29th of this month.

  [EU leaders have intensively spoken out, criticizing the United States, Britain and Australia for dishonesty]

  The EU foreign ministers had previously held a closed-door meeting on the submarine contract incident and unanimously sided with France.

European Council President Michelle said on the 20th that it is difficult to understand the recent move by the United States, Britain and Australia to reach a nuclear submarine agreement. After taking office, Biden claimed that "the United States is back", but "is the United States back? Is the United States back to the United States or elsewhere? We don’t know."

  He bluntly said that what the EU sees is the lack of transparency and loyalty of its allies, and believes that the United States has lost the trust of the transatlantic alliance.

Michel expects that affected by this incident, European countries will increase their efforts to strengthen their defense capabilities.

But he said that this is not to confront allies, but "because if we are stronger, our alliance will be stronger."

  The President of the European Commission von der Lein stated that the actions taken by the United States, Britain and Australia against France were "unacceptable" and demanded an explanation from the United States and Australia.

Reuters quoted two EU diplomats as reporting that the European Commission requested that preliminary discussions on trade and technical committee meetings be removed from the agenda on the 22nd.

  The committee was jointly established by the United States and the European Union. The first meeting was scheduled to be held in Pittsburgh on the 29th of this month. This was originally regarded as a great leap forward in the relationship between the transatlantic alliance, but according to Michel, some member states are seeking to postpone the meeting.

  German Foreign Minister Maas also supported France on the 21st, saying that the incident was “angry and disappointing” and needed to reflect on how to strengthen European sovereignty.

German Minister of European Affairs Ross Tongtian said that the United States and Australia undermined the trust between allies.

Ross emphasized that the EU cannot completely rely on others, but must cooperate and overcome internal differences and "speak with one voice."

  In addition, the Chairman of the International Trade Committee of the European Parliament Lange revealed on the 21st that due to the crisis of confidence in Europe and Australia, the dialogue and negotiation of the free trade agreement between the EU and Australia "will take more time", and the agreement will not be at least May 2022. Signed before the French election.

Since 2018, Brussels has conducted 11 rounds of negotiations with Canberra, and Australia originally hoped to reach an agreement before the end of 2021.

  [France and the EU or take follow-up measures?

  French Minister of European Affairs Bona welcomed the support of the European Union.

He emphasized that this matter is not only about France, but a problem in Europe. The EU should defend its own interests more decisively.

It is not clear what follow-up measures the EU may take.

  On the 20th, French Foreign Minister Le Drian, who went to New York to participate in the UN General Assembly, continued to be "stabbed in the back" and directly criticized the Biden administration for continuing Trump's "unilateralism, unpredictability, rudeness, and disrespect for partners." The style of work has led to a "crisis of trust."

  A spokesperson for the French President confirmed to the US media that French President Macron would not go to New York to attend the UN General Assembly and canceled the release of the recorded speech.

  Hong Kong's "Ta Kung Pao" reported that some analysts believe that Macron, who has criticized NATO for "brain death", may take more actions in taking over European strategic autonomy.

The departure of German Chancellor Merkel is imminent. People from all walks of life acquiesce that Macron will become the "leader" of the European Union. In addition, France will assume the rotating presidency of the European Union from January 2022. The outside world is concerned about the changes that will take place in the European Union.

  French Foreign Minister Le Drian said that after France takes over the rotating presidency of the European Union next year, it will make the promotion of the EU's own security strategy its primary goal.

As early as 2018, Macron proposed to establish a European army to reduce Europe's defense dependence on the United States.

In recent days, spurred by the embarrassing withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, discussions within the EU on the establishment of a "rapid reaction force" have heated up.

  A British diplomat told Bloomberg that France may re-evaluate its relationship with NATO. Although France is not yet ready to withdraw from the military alliance, it will push the EU’s strategic autonomy from passive to active.