Former French diplomat compares EU decline to Qing China's fall

A former French diplomat, Vassy, has sparked debate by comparing the European Union's economic decline to that of Qing China. Writing in Le Grand Continent, he noted the EU's share of the world economy fell from 30% to 17% between 2008 and 2025, a decline he claims is three times faster than China's between 1820 and 1870. Vassy, who served as chief of staff for French ministers for Europe and foreign affairs and as French ambassador to the Netherlands, argues the EU must relearn power politics instead of relying on international law and negotiations. The essay, titled "Penser la puissance, un défi intellectuel de notre temps," calls for a new intellectual approach to power. Lo Wing-hung, publisher of Bastille Post, noted that Vassy's credentials lend weight to the comparison, which amuses some in China and upsets others in Europe.