Recently, Chinese officials have been whispering to their European counterparts things they actually want to hear. The protection of a framework, with international standards, is among the things the Europeans hold dear, but it's been crumbling since Donald Trump came to power in the US. Seizing on this opportunity, China is presenting itself as an alternative, as it constantly criticizes the shortcomings of American power.

This line of argument was echoed by both China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, and its prime minister, Li Qiang, when they hosted the head of French diplomacy, Jean-Noël Barrot, in Beijing on Thursday, March 27. "Faced with profound changes in the international context (...), we must defend multilateralism and oppose unilateralism," said Wang at the Diaoyutai State Guest House. "As we all know, the world is not at peace today, and instability and uncertainty are on the rise," Li said, welcoming the French foreign minister to the People's Palace.

China is banking on the disarray caused by the behavior of the American president and his entourage toward Europe to try and improve relations with Europe. This would turn the page on three years complicated by two major issues: Beijing's support for Moscow despite the war in Ukraine and the output of Chinese factories that threatens to crush European industries.

You have 70.79% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.