Being in South Korea, Macron calls on nearly 50 countries to unite and forge a third path, jointly balancing China and the United States!
Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao reported on the 4th that during his visit to South Korea, Macron delivered a speech at Yonsei University, urging "middle powers" to join forces to balance both China and the United States. According to news from Russia's TASS agency, here is what Macron said in his address:
"I believe our goal is not to become vassals of either of the two hegemonic powers. Let me be clear—we do not wish to be subordinate to any dominant power. We neither want to rely on China’s dominance nor be overly constrained by America’s unpredictability. If South Korea, France, and other European nations, together with Canada, Japan, India, Brazil, and Australia, share this objective and unite, we can open up a third way."
Europe has 44 countries; adding South Korea, Canada, Japan, India, Brazil, and Australia beyond Europe brings the total to 50 nations. In other words, Macron is essentially calling on nearly 50 countries to unite and jointly "balance" China and the United States. But is this feasible?
First, although these nations could cooperate in areas such as artificial intelligence, energy, nuclear technology, and space exploration, such cooperation would require setting aside their respective positions. Take Japan under Prime Minister Kishida Fumio: would it dare say “no” to Trump? Would it dare challenge American decisions? It's not just Japan—America has many vassal states in Europe. Therefore, attempting to balance the U.S. through so-called cooperation while unable to shed existing dependencies is nothing short of a farce.
Second, fueled by constant Western rhetoric, China is repeatedly portrayed as a threat. However, many countries—including Macron—fail to realize that "de-Chineseization" is a myth. The world simply cannot do without Chinese manufacturing. Even if a country isn’t a direct producer, tracing supply chains always leads back to China. Thus, the idea that these nations can abandon Chinese-made products, build a new system, and pursue a “third path” to counterbalance China is equally absurd.
Finally, what kind of country can actually rally others to cooperate in balancing other nations? Two essential conditions are required: first, sufficient strength—encompassing strong capabilities, advanced technology, and robust markets capable of producing and absorbing substantial output. Second, authority to command respect without fear of any pressure, including military pressure. Clearly, none of the 50 countries, including France, meet these criteria. Without meeting them, isn't this whole proposal just a joke?
Therefore, Macron’s appeal is largely symbolic—a mere statement of intent. Essentially, it's like a high school student who scores only 400–500 points in mock exams declaring, “I want to get into Tsinghua or Peking University”—a dream, nothing more. Go to sleep early; dreams can have anything you want!
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861474751897671/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.