Today, as no-one needs to be reminded, is St. George’s Day. And what better way to show off one’s Englishness than to have a moan about the French? Now, obviously there are things to admire about France. Many has been the time that I jumped into my mobile unit or “car”, here in Southern Germany and crossed the border, without resistance, into the Alsace. I don’t go as often as I used to, as they’ve closed the Marks and Spencer with its food section in Strasbourg (after all, if you can’t go to France for culinary reasons, why should you)?
A few days ago I made a comment at Depleted Uranium about the support Chirac’s regime has been showing for the communist Chinese. The link in his post is to a story from January and it was only after I read this report from Deutsche Welle, that I got the full-on “Holy shit!” effect.
During a state visit to China, French Premier Raffarin threw support behind a law allowing China to attack Taiwan and continued to push for a lift of the EU arms embargo.At the outset of a three-day visit to China, French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said he supported Beijing’s “anti-secession” law on Taiwan, and vowed to keep pushing for an end to an EU arms embargo that could open the door for Paris to sell weapons to the Asian giant.
That isn’t just “dangle a few carrots to sell a couple more Airbus” politics, that’s saying you agree it’s okay for a bunch of communist thugs to attack a democratic country. Or in the phrase used by M. Raffarin
“The anti-secession law is completely compatible with the position of France,”
Now I’m not sure exactly how diplomat-speak translates but “completely compatible with the position of France”, makes you wonder whether they’re actually going to help with the attack. Well, I’d merely like to state my extreme displeasure and unease at those remarks. Jeez! No wonder some Germans are starting to get a tad unsure about lifting the arms embargo, despite what their Chancellor would like….
Anyway, as Montaigne said “que sais-je?” And it’s time for me to go out with some Catalans and celebrate their Saints Day.
Song playing as this was published: The Flowerpot Men “Beat City”
“The anti-secession law is completely compatible with the position of France,”
Or, “don’t even think about it Corsica”.
Good point, Mark, and whilst the French certainly don’t like the idea of losing bits, the French navy also carried out exercises with the Chinese just before Taiwanese elections last spring. And whilst I’m a bit disappointed at the way nations are choosing the potential customers of the PR over Taiwain (although it’S obvious why), I think France is way on the other side of the line on this one as far as supporting the military of a communist vs a democratic regime goes….
As always, it’s all about $$$. Freedom fries anyone?
bloody French!