Between China and the United States

The United States wants to drag Europeans into a new Cold War against China. But the European Union does not share America’s interests and so must not align itself.

Has the new Cold War started? CIA Director William Burns is convinced of it. On Oct. 7, he announced the creation of a specialized unit on China within his agency. It must tackle “the most important geopolitical threat we face in the 21st century, an increasingly adversarial Chinese government,” Burns explained. Current U.S. President Joe Biden follows in the footsteps of his predecessors Barack Obama and Donald Trump, who had already identified China as their new rival. The tension is spreading to trade and big tech, as the two superpowers seek to separate their production systems. This confrontation is weighing heavily upon international relations, and Europeans are being urged by Washington to align themselves behind its white plumage.

In Paris, Berlin or Brussels, this demand is galling. Economically, Europeans have very distinct interests from Americans, likewise on security, where most point to other threats, such as Russia. In France, the leadership recommends pursuing a third approach of “strategic autonomy.” This vision was made concrete in 2016 by the “contract of the century” with Australia for the construction of 12 submarines.

However, Australia cancelled its order last month, instead preferring to put itself under the Americans’ umbrella. The setback highlights the difficulty of asserting independence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Is it possible to exist without aligning yourself? The question was addressed on Oct. 9 during a roundtable conversation on the subject of relations with China, held at the Rendez-vous de l’Histoire festival in Blois, France. The response was unanimous from the three speakers, diplomat Sylvie Bermann, lawyer Isabelle Feng and economist Mary-Françoise Renard. For them, Europe must not be forced to choose between Beijing and Washington. Europe must not let itself be intimidated, nor suppressed. It must define its own interests and defend them against Chinese interference on our continent and against pressure from the United States. “The European Union, as an actor of balance between the two sides and a source of standards, will have to play its part,” Bermann wrote in 2017 in a pleasant book of memories and reflections on her “Chinese years,” from life as a student to ambassador.

This is particularly the case in the fight against climate change. Europeans will have the opportunity to show their ability to influence at the Conference of the Parties 26 in Glasgow at the start of November.

The EU has, in fact, set more ambitious targets for the reduction of its carbon emissions than the United States or China. It even plans to impose a carbon tax at its borders, which should influence Beijing’s choice of energy, currently dirtied by coal, and those of Washington, which relies on shale gas. Since 2019, the EU has adopted a strategy on China that refers to the country as a partner, competitor or rival, depending on the subject.

The EU is much more nervous to define its relations with the United States, because of the importance of trade and links between member states and NATO. However, a balanced position would allow us to avoid being dragged into a Cold War the world doesn’t need.