After a long wait, a little hope has finally appeared in Western European politics. The French president's trip to China exceeded expectations - Olivér Hortay drew attention to the developments on his social media page. The head of Századvég's climate and energy policy department reminded us that the relationship between America and China is getting colder every day. The outcome of the escalating conflict may significantly affect both the development of the Russian-Ukrainian war and the economy of Europe.
So far, however, the European political elite has seemed to blindly follow the United States and jump into a trade war with China without thinking through its consequences.
Ursula von der Leyen and Emmanuel Macron's visit to China was an important milestone in the geopolitical game. The meeting originally did not promise much good, because since the President of the European Commission met with US President Joe Biden, he struck a frighteningly critical tone towards China. A few days before the trip to China, for example, he said in a speech that Beijing "has become more repressive at home and more aggressive abroad" or that the Chinese president "unfazed by the attack on Ukraine continues to maintain his boundless friendship with Russia," Olivér Hortay explained .
The business manager indicated that all of these reactions were also quite sinister. According to China's ambassador to the EU, whoever wrote the Brussels leader's speech either does not understand his country or deliberately distorted their position. And the Chinese press referred to Ursula von der Leyen as a well-known pro-America figure who is selling out Europe.
- The deteriorating diplomatic relationship was brought to a head by Emmanuel Macron, who adopted a posture at the meeting that Europe should have represented for a long time. The French president distanced himself from Ursula Von der Leyen's criticisms and said that her approach is not anti-China, but pro-European. According to Macron, the European Union should not follow the United States or China, but its own interests, which point in the direction of peace, mutual respect and calm trade, said Olivér Hortay.
After the meeting, Emmanuel Macron also sent a message to the Europeans; according to the French leader, it is time for the European Union to wake up and define itself as a third pole, because this is the only way to avoid becoming a vassal of others.
The US administration was outraged by Macron's statement. The leaders of the House of Representatives called the French position frustrating, embarrassing and shameful.
- However, for us Europeans, the turn is very encouraging. It is good to hear that one of the leading powers of the union is finally talking about European interests, sovereignty and strategic autonomy. This change in attitude is absolutely necessary in order to at least have a chance for our community to start climbing after the descent. The new direction also resonates with the pro-peace position that Hungary has been representing since the beginning of the war , explained the business manager.
Olivér Hortay finally added: Macron's stance can therefore not only put the Franco-Hungarian partnership on a new foundation, but also set a meaningful direction for the whole of Europe. It is hoped that other member states will soon realize this and join.
Source, full article: Magyar Nemzet
Featured image: MTI/AP/Thibault Camus
