Embattled Macron Heads to China, Leaving Burning Paris Behind

French President Emmanuel Macron attends a ceremony in tribute to French GIGN gendarme Marechal des Logis-Chef Arnaud Blanc, at the French National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIGN) base of Versailles-Satory in Versailles, west of Paris, France, 31 March 2023. (EPA)
French President Emmanuel Macron attends a ceremony in tribute to French GIGN gendarme Marechal des Logis-Chef Arnaud Blanc, at the French National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIGN) base of Versailles-Satory in Versailles, west of Paris, France, 31 March 2023. (EPA)
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Embattled Macron Heads to China, Leaving Burning Paris Behind

French President Emmanuel Macron attends a ceremony in tribute to French GIGN gendarme Marechal des Logis-Chef Arnaud Blanc, at the French National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIGN) base of Versailles-Satory in Versailles, west of Paris, France, 31 March 2023. (EPA)
French President Emmanuel Macron attends a ceremony in tribute to French GIGN gendarme Marechal des Logis-Chef Arnaud Blanc, at the French National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIGN) base of Versailles-Satory in Versailles, west of Paris, France, 31 March 2023. (EPA)

French President Emmanuel Macron will head to China next week for a rare visit to the rising superpower, in an awkward balancing act between his global statesman ambitions and his struggle to contain embarrassing pension protests at home.

The French leader, whose decision to ram much-disputed pension legislation through parliament earlier this month sparked clashes and violence in French cities, is trying to keep his busy diplomatic schedule on track.

But the chaotic scenes of burning piles of rubbish in Paris, which were broadcast around the world, have already forced Macron to cancel a state visit by Britain's King Charles, an embarrassment which did not go unnoticed in diplomatic circles.

"It's a very prestigious thing to host the first visit abroad of the King of England, it doesn't happen every day. If you can't pull it off, it's a problem," the ambassador of a European country told Reuters.

"It's clear it is weakening him," another EU diplomat said. "It's hard to measure the impact, but there is one."

The protests, which will see unions stage an 11th nationwide strike during Macron's time in Beijing, come as the French president is trying to regain the initiative on the war in Ukraine and play a leadership role in Europe.

That hasn't escaped Chinese observers.

"The protests bring a large amount of risk and France needs a diplomatic highlight, especially since it wants to play the role of Europe's leader," said Wang Yiwei, director of the Centre for European Studies at Renmin University in China.

Macron will also need to keep in mind China's tactic of playing divide and rule, said a non-Western diplomat who suggested China may try to use the trip to place a wedge in the Western camp and lure France away from the United States.

Red line on Russia

For his part, Macron wants to send a clear warning to his counterpart Xi Jinping, who was hosted at the Kremlin by Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month, that Europe will not accept China providing arms to Russia, now a year into its invasion of Ukraine.

"Our message will be clear: There may be a temptation to get closer to Russia, but do not cross that line," a senior French diplomat said.

Analysts say Putin's decision to station nuclear weapons in Belarus can provide an opportunity for France to push China to distance itself from Russia on this point, Beijing having long denounced nuclear proliferation.

"France is a nuclear power, it's got this card to play," Antoine Bondaz of the France-based FRS think-tank.

However, a Brussels-based diplomat said many in Europe were doubtful he could be successful in his previously stated aim of nudging China to put pressure on Moscow to end the war. "Many in Brussels roll their eyes when you bring that up," he said.

French diplomats are playing down the impact the protests at home could have on Macron's credibility abroad. They point out Xi faced his own protests at the end of last year, in a rare show of civil disobedience over COVID-19 restrictions.

"The Chinese will play a fine balancing act. They need a good relationship with Europe so will not want to play on Macron's internal problems," another French diplomat said.

Amid worsening relations between Washington and Beijing, which reached fever pitch last month after the US shot down a Chinese balloon flying over its territory, Europe is trying to carve its own path.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who will be accompanying Macron in Beijing, said the bloc was looking to "de-risk" diplomatically and economically at a time China was exerting greater control over companies, without "decoupling".

Analysts say China's deteriorating relationship with the US gives Europe a bit more leverage, with the EU's vast single market becoming more crucial for China.

That can provide an opportunity for Macron, who has pushed Europe to bolster its "strategic autonomy," but is also hoping France and the rest of the EU can benefit from a reopening Chinese economy after years of pandemic.

"Macron can deliver a message that Europe wants to engage with China, but that it's going to be difficult if China continues down the path that it's currently on with Russia," Noah Barkin, an analyst with Rhodium Group, said.



Gaza Rescuer Risks Life to Save Victim of Israel Strike

Thursday's Israeli strike on the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood northeast of Gaza city largely levelled the Dar al-Arqam school which Gaza's civil defense agency said served as a shelter for Palestinians displaced by the war. - AFP
Thursday's Israeli strike on the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood northeast of Gaza city largely levelled the Dar al-Arqam school which Gaza's civil defense agency said served as a shelter for Palestinians displaced by the war. - AFP
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Gaza Rescuer Risks Life to Save Victim of Israel Strike

Thursday's Israeli strike on the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood northeast of Gaza city largely levelled the Dar al-Arqam school which Gaza's civil defense agency said served as a shelter for Palestinians displaced by the war. - AFP
Thursday's Israeli strike on the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood northeast of Gaza city largely levelled the Dar al-Arqam school which Gaza's civil defense agency said served as a shelter for Palestinians displaced by the war. - AFP

Arriving in the deadly aftermath of an Israeli strike in northern Gaza last week, rescuer Nooh Al-Shaghnobi risked his life to aid the wounded despite warnings of another imminent attack.

In a video that has since gone viral on social media, civil defense member Shaghnobi can be seen desperately trying to pull a wounded man out from under a mound of rubble after a strike on a school on Thursday.

As he was working, a fresh evacuation order was issued by the Israeli military, warning of another strike on the same site, a school sheltering displaced people from across the territory.

"The scene was terrifying" as people fled the building, Shaghnobi told AFP, referring to the Dar al-Arqam school which Gaza's civil defense said served as a shelter for Palestinians displaced by the war.

"I became anxious, and the injured person grew even more distressed," he said.

"I tried to calm him down, telling him, 'I will stay with you until your last breath. We will die together if we must.'"

Shaghnobi said he dug with his bare hands through the debris to reach the wounded man's leg which was pinned under concrete.

"He kept calling out: 'Why did you come back, man? Leave me to die. Get out.'"

Shaghnobi said at one point the pair were the only people left in the building as Israeli reconnaissance drones flew overhead.

"I kept trying to pull him out, but I couldn't. I said to myself: 'This is the moment we die.'"

It was then that one of Shaghnobi's colleagues rushed over, warning that they had just 10 minutes to save anyone still alive before another strike hit.

Together they pulled with all their strength until the man's leg was freed.

"In that moment, my eyes welled up with tears, my body shaking from exhaustion," he said.

While initially hesitant, Shaghnobi's other colleagues arrived to help carry the wounded man to safety.

Gaza's civil defense agency said at least 31 people, including children, were killed in last Thursday's strike on the school in the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood, northeast of Gaza City.

Since the Gaza war began after Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in schools and other facilities in a bid to escape the deadly violence.

Most of Gaza's 2.4 million people have been displaced at least once since the war started.

On Wednesday, a strike on a residential block in Gaza City that housed many displaced people killed at least 23 people and wounded more than 60, according to Gaza's civil defense agency.

The Israeli military said it had targeted a "senior Hamas terrorist" in the attack.