China leery of Sarkozy's outstretched hand
By Jian Junbo
SHANGHAI - French President Nicolas Sarkozy struck a note at once conciliatory
and pragmatic, extending a hand for China's cooperation on the big issues of
the 21st century on his first visit to China since the ice melted on relations
frozen by his support for the Free Tibet movement.
Serious challenges, such as climate change, economic crisis and reform of
global institutions, cannot be solved without China's input, Sarkozy said in a
state visit on the way to attending the opening ceremony of the Shanghai 2010
World Expo. The three-day visit, from April 28, was his fourth to China but the
first since relations between the two nations were strained by Sarkozy's
meeting with the Dalai Lama in December 2008, which led an angry Beijing to
cancel a Sino-European Union summit, and
controversy over his stance on the Summer Olympic Games in the Chinese capital
earlier that year.
Even before his meeting with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, his open
support to Free Tibet activists dogging the Beijing Olympic torch relay in
Paris offended Beijing and many Chinese people called for a boycott of French
products and businesses in China, especially the retail giant Carrefour.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao bypassed France, apparently deliberately, during his
"confidence-building tour" of Europe in late 2008.
The two countries didn't resume normal diplomatic relations until April 2009,
when Chinese President Hu Jintao met Sarkozy on the sidelines of a China-EU
summit in Prague. In this meeting they released a joint statement in which
France promised to adhere to a one-China policy, proclaiming that Tibet was an
inseparable part of China's territory and promised not to support any kind of
activities calling for Tibet's independence.
In view of the unstable relationship between China and France, Sarkozy's latest
visit marked the normalization of the two countries' "comprehensive strategic
relationship", at least in form.
From China's point of view, Sarkozy's willingness to fully restore "friendly
relations" is firstly based on the realistic realization of the two nations'
mutual dependence, especially economically and financially. China is reportedly
now France's largest trading partner in Asia. Hit by the global financial
crisis, France, like most European countries, suffered enormous economic pain.
On the other hand, China's economy has quickly recovered, helped by a huge
state stimulus package. France therefore can benefit from China's recovery
since China is one of its most important economic partners. Typically, China
has the potential to buy more French goods and technology. According to the
Ministry of Commerce, China recorded a trade deficit of US$7.7 billion in the
first quarter of this year. And, in 2009, China replaced Germany as the
second-largest importer in the global market after the United States. This is
certainly good news for Western enterprises eager to sell their products or
services to China.
Hence, accompanying Sarkozy were executives of France's 20 big trans-national
enterprises. During his meeting with Hu Jintao in Beijing on April 28, Sarkozy
explicitly urged China to buy French nuclear power technology and equipment. He
told Hu that he hoped the two countries could sign an agreement on cooperation
over civilian nuclear power on Hu's visit to France in autumn.
It seems Sarkozy is now aware of the objectives France shares with China. In
the aftermath of the global financial crisis, especially the diversification of
the international financial system, there are common goals for both
governments. Sarkozy talked, for example, about reforms that France was
considering to build a new international financial system through cooperation
with China. Although the two countries' leaders have yet to sign any formal
economic agreement, some economic cooperation can be anticipated. The rising
influence and importance of China in international affairs also stimulated
Sarkozy to normalize and promote Sino-France relations.
Apart from the common economic and strategic interests that both countries can
gain from cooperation, Sarkozy's own political interests are set to benefit
from this visit to China since he can "amplify" his international political
prestige through the lens of China as a rising power.
France will be the host country of the Group of 8 and the Group of 20 next
year. Sarkozy would like to act as a global leader at both events, and China,
as a rising power with increasing influence in the world, especially in
developing countries, could be a very good prop for him to perform on the
international stage. Clearly, a person who joins with China in addressing a new
economic order will enjoy an influential standing in the world.
In short, the importance of China for French economic interests as well as for
Sarkozy's personal political prestige pushed him to visit China, even though he
was perceived to have humiliated the country in 2008.
However, even if Sarkozy has promised that Paris will end the unhappiness and
misunderstanding between the countries, Beijing will wait to see if he honors
his pledges.
China's suspicion is based on Sarkozy's choice to offend Beijing in 2008
through his support of Free Tibet activists and in meeting the Dalai Lama. At
that time, China was also a very important economic and strategic partner for
France, both at the bilateral and international levels. So the Chinese can't
immediately understand what the true motivation is behind Sarkozy's change of
heart now.
Sarkozy is believed in some circles to have been opportunist towards China.
When he came to power in 2007 he paid a friendly visit to Beijing; then after
the Lhasa riot in Tibet in early 2008, he expressed support and sympathy for
those calling for Tibetan independence. He then said Beijing must open dialogue
with the Dalai Lama before he would attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing
Olympics, but he eventually showed up without the precondition being met; then
in October of that year he attended an Asia-Europe summit held in Beijing and
met Chinese leaders, but after he left Beijing he quickly met the Dalai Lama.
When Beijing postponed the France-hosted EU-China summit, Sarkozy moved to ease
tensions by proclaiming that Tibet was a part of China and promised not to
support Tibetan independence.
Given all this, Sarkozy's visit cannot be seen as a decisive change in Paris'
policy toward China - unstable relations cannot change into a sustainable
strategic partnership in a matter of days. For China, Sarkozy is still a person
who should be observed and assessed by his future policies toward China.
Dr Jian Junbo is assistant professor of the Institute of International
Studies at Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
(Copyright 2010 Asia Times Online (Holdings) Ltd. All rights reserved. Please
contact us about
sales, syndication and
republishing.)
Head
Office: Unit B, 16/F, Li Dong Building, No. 9 Li Yuen Street East,
Central, Hong Kong Thailand Bureau:
11/13 Petchkasem Road, Hua Hin, Prachuab Kirikhan, Thailand 77110
