Marine Le Pen on China
Marine Le Pen's views on China are generally framed through the lens of her economic nationalism and desire for French sovereignty.
Historically, her party has focused on issues like globalization and unfair trade practices, which implicitly position China as a significant economic competitor and concern for French industry.
While she has not made China the central focus of her major presidential campaigns, her policies suggest a desire to protect French interests against foreign economic influence, including that emanating from Beijing.
Context
Marine Le Pen, as a perennial presidential candidate and leader of the National Rally (RN), approaches foreign policy with a nationalist and protectionist viewpoint. This framework naturally leads to scrutiny of major global economic powers like China, particularly concerning trade imbalances and industrial competition, which are core tenets of her political platform.
Her focus on bringing production back to France and opposing globalization means that any nation perceived as undercutting French labor or capital, such as China, is viewed critically in terms of national interest.
Actions Taken
- Campaign FinanceHer party, the National Front (FN), secured a €10.6 million loan from the Hungarian MKB Bank, chaired by an ally of Viktor Orbán, to finance her 2022 presidential campaign.
- Campaign FinanceThe loan transaction was noted to have depended on Orbán's involvement, suggesting a high-level geopolitical link during a period where Le Pen sought to distance herself from Russian finance.
Comparison
- Compared to previous FN leadership: Marine Le Pen pursued a strategy of 'de-demonisation,' which may have softened the outright hostility that sometimes characterized her father's, Jean-Marie Le Pen's, more overtly radical foreign policy stances.
- Compared to Macron's government: While current French government policy under Emmanuel Macron seeks a balance between cooperation and competition with China, Le Pen's rhetoric leans more heavily on the need to defend national economic boundaries.