As the Philippines assume the ASEAN chairmanship in 2026, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is seeking to de-escalate tensions with China while deepening defense cooperation with the United States and other partners amid rising frictions in the South China Sea. The strategy reflects Manila’s effort to bolster deterrence without undermining ASEAN consensus or provoking broader regional instability.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent visit to China reinforced bilateral ties through trade, investment, and scientific cooperation, yet yielded few breakthroughs on contentious issues like Ukraine or advanced technology transfer, reflecting Beijing’s guarded approach. While Macron projects a Neo-Gaullist vision of strategic autonomy and a “Third Way” between the U.S. and China, structural constraints in France and the enduring weight of trans-Atlantic ties limit the substantive impact of his approach.

As the countries lean more to the left, they may use relations with China to counter the growing radical right movement in the United States and its domino effect in Europe.

A shift to the right has plunged leaders of major EU countries into a trust crisis that threatens to undermine the consensus between Europe and China on major global issues, such as climate change, globalization and world peace.

A French warship passed through the strategic Taiwan Strait this month, U.S. officials told Reuters, a rare voyage by a vessel of a European country that is likely to be welcomed by Washington but increase tensions with Beijing.

Macron and Xi sign agreements as French leader presses EU to demand more from Beijing.

Airbus deal to sell 300 aircraft to China matches a China record held by U.S. rival Boeing.

French leader starts three-day state visit to Xian and Beijing. Xi, Macron to discuss trade, climate, North Korea, technology.