The fighting in Ukraine—and the cutting off of Russian gas that ensued—raised questions about Europe’s reliance on the outside world. Mrs von der Leyen speaks of “resilience”—a concept not too far removed from the “strategic autonomy” preferred by France’s Emmanuel Macron, with whom she has just travelled to China. That trip provided an illustration of tricky power dynamics in Europe. Just before the visit Mrs von der Leyen had warned in a hawkish speech that “China has now turned the page on the era of ‘reform and opening’ and is moving into a new era of security and control”. Officials in Beijing made sure she played second fiddle to the far more doveish French president, for example ensuring that she got less face time with President Xi Jinping. Those looking for divisions in Europe’s approach to China found it easy to do so.
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