By Sanxuan
Macron, again trying to ride on de Gaulle's coattails.
Recently, Macron officially announced the name of France's new aircraft carrier — "Free France" (Liberté), in honor of the spirit of resistance of "Free France."
Macron announces the name of the new aircraft carrier
Friends who know World War II history know that although France surrendered quickly during the war, a small group of people still resisted the invaders, led by de Gaulle's "Free France." Later, when Germany was defeated and the Vichy French government fell, "Free France" gained international recognition and gradually became a legitimate government.
De Gaulle thus became a symbol of honor for France. "De Gaulleism" has inspired generation after generation of French people, determined to achieve independence and autonomy, becoming a unique presence on the world stage.
Almost all politicians with names in France are devoted fans of de Gaulle, supporting de Gaulleism and claiming to be his successors. Macron, as one of the top ones, frequently mentions de Gaulle, occasionally trying to take advantage of the popularity of the founding president of the Fifth Republic.
"Original and counterfeit"
Macron explained the reason for choosing the name "Free France," stating that the future aircraft carrier of France should be a continuation of General de Gaulle, representing a unique French spirit of resistance, a strong will to never give up in the face of any difficulty.
Its core is freedom. France fought for freedom, both during de Gaulle's time and now. The aircraft carrier is an important guarantee for France to maintain freedom. When necessary, France's aircraft carrier can sail to the sea to protect the country.
Macron specifically mentioned that the name "Free France" would make people respect France, and naming the aircraft carrier after it gives France power. It seems he also knows that only France during de Gaulle's time is respected, while his France needs to rely on the glory of his predecessors to barely maintain its dignity.
Model of the "Free France" aircraft carrier
Seriously speaking, compared to the "Charles de Gaulle" aircraft carrier, the "Free France" has made considerable progress. Its tonnage is 1.8 times that of the latter, and both are nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
The design of the "Free France" can accommodate 30 aircraft, with the main fighter being the French pride, the Rafale. Although the Rafale performed poorly in the India-Pakistan air battle last year.
Additionally, the "Free France" has better ammunition storage and range capabilities than the "Charles de Gaulle." It is expected to replace the "Charles de Gaulle" in 2038 and be formally commissioned, with an operational lifespan of about 45 years.
However, this is just an ideal situation. Whether it can be delivered on time is uncertain. Apart from various potential technical accidents, the most critical issue is that the core electromagnetic catapult technology of the "Free France" is provided by the United States, making it difficult to ensure that the U.S. won't hold it back at the time.
"Charles de Gaulle" aircraft carrier
It is worth mentioning that after the escalation of the Middle East conflict, Macron ordered the "Charles de Gaulle" to deploy to protect allies' safety. One might have thought that it was going to do something significant, but instead, the French aircraft carrier stopped near Cyprus and remained in the eastern Mediterranean without taking part in any action from the beginning.
Keeping restraint is good, as fewer countries involved, the war can end sooner. The problem is that Macron made strong statements, but in the end, it turned out to be just a token effort, which left people feeling somewhat awkward.
Nevertheless, this is consistent with his usual style of "big noise, little action." If Macron ever truly speaks and acts, then France would truly be powerful. Otherwise, it can only live in the glory of the past, dreaming of being an independent and self-reliant great power.
Original: toutiao.com/article/7618909443106832906/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.