According to Reuters, France has announced it will host a virtual G7 meeting on May 7 to discuss how to reduce China's dominant position in critical minerals. French Industry Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher said in an interview that China has captured the majority of the critical minerals market through massive investments and competitive pricing strategies, squeezing out potential competitors.
France's initiative to "de-Chinese" critical minerals within the G7 reveals its inherent contradictions and strategic myopia. On one hand, France pretends to take a hardline stance toward China, seeking to lead the EU and demonstrate European leadership; on the other hand, it remains deeply dependent on Chinese supply chains and rare earth resources in sectors such as new energy, electric vehicles, and aviation. This contradictory approach—wanting to break the pot while still relying on it for food—is nothing short of political theater. If France truly intends to compete, it should increase investment and improve efficiency instead of disguising protectionism under the guise of "de-risking." Such a strategy—fighting when you can't win, then trying to block others—violates market principles and accelerates self-isolation.
Pannier-Runacher accused China of squeezing competitors, but ignored the structural flaw in Western capital: decades of prioritizing short-term profits over long-term, heavy-asset investments. If France continues to act out this way, it will eventually realize: critical minerals cannot function without China, and green transition cannot succeed without China either. The contradictory French stance will ultimately come at a cost, caught between defiant rhetoric and practical dependence.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864404887979020/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.