The Three Myths of France's China Policy

Visiting China for the first time in spring 2013, French President François Hollande reaffirmed France's commitment to a policy defined more than 15 years ago by the Jacques Chirac administration. The Paris' unshaken position towards Beijing is nonetheless puzzling. This “global strategic partnership” has incurred significant economic, ideational and political costs for France, while benefits have remained at best meagre and questionable.