Macron heads to China as Europe walks tightrope between rivalry and reliance

By Michel Rose

PARIS, Dec 2 (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to China this week for his fourth state visit, as Europe seeks to balance economic and security threats from Beijing with reliance on the world’s second-largest economy during a time of global trade turmoil.

Macron in the past has sought to project a robust European front in dealing with China, while being careful not to antagonise Beijing, whose growing assertiveness is testing trade, security and diplomatic ties, analysts say.

“He must make clear to China’s leadership that Europe will respond to growing economic and security threats from Beijing, while preventing an escalation of tensions that leads to a full-blown trade war and diplomatic breakdown,” Noah Barkin, a China analyst with Rhodium Group, t