Xi has repeatedly called Putin his best friend. He has also repeatedly refused to do anything to stop Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and supplied dual-use military technologies, weapon-building components and satellite imagery, warns the U.S., to Russia.
In a recent interview with POLITICO, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith highlighted Beijing’s support for Moscow, saying that China could not proclaim to be neutral in the conflict any more. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also described Chinese assistance as “[helping] Moscow to inflict more death and destruction on Ukraine.”
Talking, not talking
In Paris, Macron will provide Xi with his “analysis of developments in the conflict, and [will] convey Ukrainian positions,” the same Elysée official said. The French president “will also raise concerns about the activities of certain Chinese companies that could be directly involved in or contribute significantly to the Russian war effort.”
There’s plenty of room for the two leaders to talk past each other.
“It’s going to be a mismatch of expectations,” said Abigaël Vasselier, head of foreign relations at MERICS, a think tank, and formerly an EU diplomat working on China policy. “The Chinese are going to France to try to see how they can undermine the European intent to move forward with the [electric vehicles] investigations. [But] for France it is going to come second, after the war in Ukraine.”
During his visit to China last year, Xi invited Macron to his father’s home in Guangdong province. This week, Macron will try to turn on the charm, taking Xi to his childhood holiday spot in the Pyrénées.
