Von der Leyen and Macron in China: A journey like walking a tightrope

French President Emmanuel Macron and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meet Xi Jinping. The Europeans’ visit to Beijing is not a visit to a friend. Rather, a diplomatic tightrope act begins on Wednesday on the world stage. The following must be taken into account: Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, China’s striving for world power, Europe’s dependence on raw materials, the US President’s expectations of its European allies and the race for green technologies.