China Sees Macron Visit As Triumph Of "New World Order"

Chinese propagandists are seizing on the three-day visit of French President Emmanuel Macron as a “triumph” of China-led “new world order,” following a summit between erstwhile Middle Eastern foes Iran and Saudi Arabia sponsored by China, Ishaan Taroor and Sammy Westfall reported for Washington Post.

Photo Insert: Macron did not get what he had hoped for from the trip to China as Xi stands as non-committal as a pedestal.

Macron gave Xi the optics he sought: A clear reminder to the US — who Xi obliquely referred to as a domineering “third party” — of the gap between its hawkish stance on China and the more perhaps equivocating posture of many in Europe.

It was less clear what Xi gave Macron politically: The French president urged Xi to bring Russia “to reason” over its invasion of Ukraine, but that was met by boilerplate rhetoric and little indication of the needle of the conflict being moved in any significant direction.

In what was framed as a joint call with France, Xi urged for peace talks to resume soon and called “for the protection of civilians,” while also reiterating that “nuclear weapons must not be used, and nuclear war must not be fought” over Ukraine.

While Xi normally rattles off his anti-nuke rhetoric to please Macron, he nevertheless did not commit to talking with Russian President Vladimir Putin or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In short, Macron did not get what he had hoped for as Xi stands as non-committal as a pedestal.

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