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Is French fury at US over new UK-Australia pact a chance for Beijing to improve relations with Europe?
- The new Aukus pact designed to counter Beijing’s influence saw France lose out on a US$40 billion submarine contract with Canberra
- Chinese observers say this could leave Europe questioning the US commitment to transatlantic ties, but it is not clear how far China can benefit
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The unprecedented rift between the US and France over the new three-way alliance with Britain and Australia raises questions about Washington’s commitment to its transatlantic alliance and may offer Beijing a chance to improve ties with Europe, Chinese diplomatic observers have said.
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France, America’s oldest ally, recalled its ambassador to Washington for consultation for the first time since the US was established after the announcement of the new three-way Aukus pact. It also recalled its ambassador to Canberra.
The deal will provide Australia with the technology to build nuclear-powered submarines to help counter Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific – but means a previous US$40 billion agreement with France to provide diesel subs will be torn up.
The foreign ministry in Beijing denounced the new military alliance as a threat to peace in the region and said it would be “closely watching” the situation.
Observers in China said the diplomatic crisis between France and the US, which French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian described as a “stab in the back”, could be an opportunity for Beijing to improve its relations with Europe, which wants to retain strategic autonomy and avoid choosing sides in the China-US strategic competition.
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