This year's Munich Security Conference kicked off in the cold wind and rain, and the differences were evident from the pre-conference report: the cover showed a conspicuous elephant, and the title read "Being Destroyed." The content pointed out that the United States was a "destroyer" of the post-war international order, and the cracks in the "solid friendship" between the United States and Europe were visible.
At last year's Security Council meeting, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, "Countries that undermine the international order have emerged, and Europe feels chills every day." Now his words have come true. From threatening to acquire Greenland, to weaponizing trade, to vacillating on key security issues such as the Ukraine crisis, the United States has sent a real chill through Europe. If last year's European reaction was reactive, this year's goodwill towards China has more rational thinking behind it.
At present, von der Leyen declared at the Munich Security Council: "Europe's moment of independence is now." The leaders of Britain, France and Germany have successively made it clear that they want to get rid of over-reliance on the United States. If Europe wants to pursue strategic independence and break its development dilemma, it must find a new way out, and China happens to be the most reliable stabilizing force.
However, whether it is Western leaders queuing up to visit China, or Foreign Minister Wang Yi receiving attention from various countries during the Munich Security Council meeting, behind these "smiling faces" we also need to be clearly aware of the "three truths". Europe's disappointment in the United States is real, and its need for cooperation with China is real, especially in the fields of trade, investment, and green transformation, but its hesitation towards a "complete turn" is also real. Regardless of deep political and economic dependence, the United States' 300 large and small military bases in Europe are a hurdle that cannot be overcome first.
Europe is slowly waking up, but the reality remains grim. If you always make verbal statements and lack practical actions, those who do not sit at the table will one day appear on the menu.
