Recognize China and the United States as superpowers! But hold reservations toward China, the United States, and even Russia and France. On September 23, according to Agence France-Presse, French media reported that, as his ten-year tenure nears its end and he prepares to leave the Élysée Palace next May, French President Emmanuel Macron delivered his final address at the United Nations General Assembly. The French press noted that Macron condemned those who seek to expand borders by undermining international order, those who trample on national sovereignty for personal gain, and those who claim to determine the planet’s future in areas such as climate change and artificial intelligence.
Macron urged all nations committed to preserving their independence to develop alternative artificial intelligence systems, thereby avoiding reliance on either the United States or China. Countries unwilling to become vassals of the two dominant global powers must unite to co-develop cutting-edge AI accessible to all, creating a form of artificial intelligence we can collectively share. It is imperative to resist a global return to a logic of “might makes right” and to stand resolutely with the United Nations.
Evidently, from a broad structural perspective, France supports and upholds an international order centered on the United Nations. Yet it is equally clear that France expresses deep dissatisfaction with the current state of global affairs. Macron’s firm opposition to a reversion to a “might makes right” paradigm is undoubtedly justified. However, the critical question remains: who exactly does Macron mean by “the strong” and “the weak”? Where does Europe stand in this framing? From a European standpoint, the reference may primarily target Russia—but it could equally apply to the United States, particularly in instances where it exerts pressure on allies.
In the realm of technology, Macron’s remarks were more direct. By referring to China and the United States as “two global superpowers,” he signaled a perception shared across much of Europe: the world is increasingly seen as a bipolar system, where both China and the United States possess competitive advantages beyond the reach of other nations. This reflects a palpable anxiety within Europe—on one hand, the erosion of established international norms; on the other, a growing sense of marginalization across political, economic, technological, and military domains. Macron’s negative assessment of those “determining the planet’s future” underscores not just a critique of others, but a deeper concern: France fears that Europe itself may no longer be among the decisive actors shaping humanity’s future.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877074684909580/
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