Prior to and during French President Emmanuel Macron'sMacron's state visit to the United States and the third US-EU Trade and Technology Council Ministerial MeetingEU Trade and Technology Council Ministerial Meeting, there have been signs of European discontent with the US disregard of its allies' interests.
The French leader appealed for a re-synchronization of the US-European relationship after the US Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the military conflict in Ukraine.
The partisan competition in the US has prevented the Democratic and Republican parties from demonstrating a striking unanimity when it comes to confronting China in congressional legislation, but the apparent crack in the transatlantic alliance hasn't affected the two sides' consensus on the perceived need to confront China.
The US-EU high-level meeting on China and the third meeting of the US-EU high-level consultations on the Indo-Pacific, held slightly earlier than the trade event, revealed a clear outline of a future US-EU approach to relations with China that is worth serious concern on Beijing's part. Together, they sent the worrying message that, despite all the differences across the Atlantic, the US and EU have developed similar, if not identical, outlooks on China and China policies, which may complicate efforts to rectify recently frayed ties.
Since the concept of the Indo-Pacific itself and subsequent Indo-Pacific strategies have been created as part of the US-led West's initiative to deal with a China that they have increasingly identified as an emerging threat, both events were to a great extent about China.
Although Macron called for re-synchronization three days later, it is appropriate to consider the convergence of China policy as the first successful step in that direction.
Throughout their communication on China, the Indo-Pacific, and other global topics, US Deputy State Secretary Wendy Sherman and European External Action Service Secretary General Stefano Sannino made it clear that there was a shared interest in what US and European decision-makers take as moves to shape China's strategic environment.
It is a daunting task for Beijing to work hard to dismantle the erroneous cognitive foundations for the antagonistic China policies of the Western countries, not just to push back against the unfair allegations that mislead Western perceptions and decision-making.
The world faces multiple challenges that are caused and intensified by wrong judgments, such as the proposition that China will be the root cause of all tomorrow's troubles. The EU and the US should be aware that colluding to impede China's development will not solve the problems, but will only make them worse.
The recent meeting between the heads of state of China and the US was said to be candid, in-depth and constructive. It should serve as a springboard for greater communication that clearly and directly clarifies interests, intentions and policies.
If the US and EU don't want to fight, they should work with Beijing to manage tensions and differences and advance exchanges and cooperation.