Introduction:
On 27 January 1964, France officially recognised the People’s Republic of China, establishing a formal diplomatic relationship between the two nations. As France and China celebrate their 61st anniversary in January 2025, it is imperative to analyse how their relationship evolved. China and France have collaborated in various aspects of their bilateral relationship, with nuclear energy cooperation being a key highlight. This reflects Beijing and Paris’s consistent efforts to strengthen their partnership in this sector. France and China, with nuclear power capacities of 61.37 gigawatts and 53.15 gigawatts, respectively, rank as the world's second and third-largest nuclear energy producers (Wei & Shumei, 2024). Their nuclear energy partnership focuses on advancing green technology and expanding atomic power capacity. Both nations’ commitment to sustainable development has emphasised carbon reduction while reinforcing nuclear cooperation.
This paper will examine the scientific and technological advancements of France and China, focusing on their collaboration in nuclear energy and its implications for sustainable development. It will also assess whether China has leverage over France in this agreement, how this cooperation might affect EU-France relations, and whether derisking from China remains a priority for France.
Historical Evolution
The strategic alliance on nuclear energy between France and China dates back to the 1980s when they first jointly established the Daya Bay nuclear power plant project in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China. With nuclear energy being a key aspect of bilateral relations, French President Emmanuel Macron recently visited China in April 2023. This diplomatic visit marked a significant turning point in China and France’s nuclear cooperation, as both countries committed to promoting sustainable development and addressing climate challenges. During the same year, while celebrating 40 years of nuclear energy collaboration, the Deputy Director of the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) highlighted the past projects, including the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant, Ling Ao Nuclear Power Plant, and Taishan Power Plant, demonstrating China’s commitment to enhancing their nuclear partnership. (CAEA, 2023)
Furthermore, to extend their cooperation in science and technology, both nations have established seven collaborative laboratories. These laboratories focus on the management of nuclear power facilities, employing fast reactor technology, and handling nuclear fusion and radioactive waste. (CAEA, 2023)
The China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) has outlined 500 thematic cooperation projects and engaged 1,000 experts for further study and research between the two nations. The Franco-Sino nuclear agreement underwent a significant transformation when the Chairman of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and the Chairman of the Electricité de France (EDF) jointly released the "Bluebook" on Nuclear Energy to support low-carbon initiatives. This Bluebook emphasises the initiative to meet sustainability targets while advancing nuclear energy. Their joint efforts and collaboration on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project are regarded as the largest and most influential endeavours in scientific development and energy production globally.
Geopolitical and Economic Implications:
China’s global digital competence and France’s technological advancements have enabled both countries to collaborate and enhance their nuclear energy capabilities while achieving sustainable development goals. In 2018, French President Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping jointly inaugurated the Taishan nuclear power plant unit 1. Furthermore, in September 2016, three projects were finalised by France and China to construct nuclear reactors in the third-party market through cooperation with the UK. (Chen & Chen, 2023)
For France, cooperation with China in nuclear energy and beyond is of vital interest for several reasons. First, with China’s launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the subsequent Digital Silk Road (DSR), new opportunities have emerged for Sino-French collaboration in nuclear energy development. Second, China’s geostrategic position in the Indo-Pacific makes it a key ally for France, as the region is crucial to French interests, housing approximately 1.6 million French citizens and encompassing territories that span from the eastern coast of Africa to the western coast of America, a 90% Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), vital maritime trade routes, and expanding digital connectivity (Pajon, 2024). Since France has been largely sidelined in the Indo-Pacific despite its vital interests in the region, it has shifted its foreign policy towards closer ties with Beijing in response to its diplomatic isolation and exclusion from key multilateral groupings like QUAD and AUKUS (Duggal, M., 2022).
For China, forming nuclear alliances with France is a way to enhance its involvement in international and global scientific projects. China's expanding influence in the European market has fostered amicable relations with countries such as Germany and France, while technological development has widened its global partnerships and trade connections within the European Union. As France pursues strategic autonomy to formulate its Indo-Pacific strategy, the nuclear alliance and cooperation with China have further strengthened Beijing's economic presence in Europe. Shen Yanfeng, general manager of CNNC, emphasised how this cooperation will assist China in advancing its “three-step” development strategy of a ‘thermal reactor-fast reactor-fusion reactor’ for nuclear energy. (SASAC, 2024)
This nuclear cooperation now extends to carbon neutrality, as demonstrated by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Paris in May 2024, where he and Macron signed the Bluebook to achieve the carbon neutrality goal (SASAC, 2024). France and China have undertaken this “two-legged approach” to develop and enhance scientific, technological, and industrial cooperation. Luo Zuoxian, head of intelligence and research at the Sinopec Economics and Development Research Institute, underscored both countries' roles in promoting nuclear energy and addressing climate change, low-carbon energy transformation, and the sustainable development initiative (Xin, 2024).
The strong collaboration between both countries through mutual investment and high-tech cooperation has provided economic leverage. These investments have contributed to economic prosperity, improved living standards, and increased the purchasing power of their citizens (Xijia & Qingrui, 2024). Meanwhile, France’s interest in the Indo-Pacific and China’s ambitions to expand its presence in the European market and extend its trade have afforded both nations with geopolitical and economic benefits, making their diplomatic ties mutually advantageous. Additionally, their cooperation in nuclear energy and sustainability—including nuclear engineering, nuclear heating, the nuclear fuel cycle, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions—has strengthened their partnership (NEI, 2024).
How the EU views growing China-France cooperation :
The EU, as a region, has adopted a robust policy approach to address China’s increasing presence and unfair trade practices. While criticising China for restricting imports from Europe and failing to adhere to investment policies, the EU has also condemned China for its South China Sea claims and disregard for international law (EEAS, 2024). Germany, China’s largest partner, is beginning to reconsider its policy, shifting from de-risking towards potential decoupling. However, the effectiveness of the de-risking strategy is becoming unclear due to the rising utilisation of Chinese technology in Germany's 5G network and Hamburg’s port's increasing reliance on COSCO, China’s state-owned shipping firm. The varying levels of investment and economic engagement within the EU highlight the lack of a cohesive strategy, a gap that China has strategically exploited to reinforce its economic influence (Bartsch & Wessling, 2024).
According to the theory of complex interdependence, countries are economically reliant on each other (Kehone & Nye, 1977). Given the economic interdependence between the EU and China, where trade establishes mutual grounds for cooperation, China imports high-tech materials from the EU, while the EU depends on China for rare earth minerals, metals, and renewable energy supplies, making absolute self-sufficiency an unrealistic objective (Brugier, 2023).
Notably, France and China have engaged in various cooperative ventures, enhancing bilateral trade and investment while addressing mutual concerns like climate change and economic stability. France's strategic communication with China aims to solidify partnerships in sectors such as technology and green energy, thus furthering the EU’s overarching objectives.
As Europe’s largest trading partner, France should align its goals with the broader European strategy to effectively pursue a de-risking policy from China. As noted by Françoise Nicolas, Franco-Sino relations can be strengthened through cooperation with Europe. (ISPI 2021)
Dragon-Rooster Partnership: De-risking or Step for Re-risking?
The competition and cooperation in nuclear energy and carbon emissions have played a significant role in the Franco-Chinese relationship. The US views China as a competitor aiming to sway the balance of power in its favour and challenge US hegemony. In contrast, France has adopted a collaborative stance towards Beijing (Asseo, 2023). Alongside reinforcing nuclear energy ties, France has enhanced bilateral relations by increasing trade and mutual direct investment, becoming China’s third-largest partner in the EU, with a total of $78.9 billion in bilateral trade in 2023 (CGTN, 2024). Cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties have also surged remarkably, highlighting the strategic cooperation and mutual trust between the rooster and the dragon.
Like a rooster, symbolising France’s commitment to its values of liberté, égalité, and fraternité, Paris should bear in mind that it has strengthened its ties with the dragon, which can push back. The EU's criticism of China for failing to adhere to trade rules and for committing human rights violations in Xinjiang has already raised alarms, and in response, China has imposed tariffs on the EU’s brandy (O’Carroll, 2024). By adopting an individualistic policy rather than bandwagoning with the US approach towards Beijing in the Indo-Pacific, France has clarified its stance on strategic autonomy while maintaining its presence in this economically vital region and its relationship with China.
Although France is keen on a balancing approach towards China, it has also sent mixed signals by siding with the EU in questioning Chinese subsidies on electric vehicles and the renewable energy sector, including wind and solar. (IFRI, 2024). France’s support for the Commission’s investigation, despite significant diplomatic pressure from China, demonstrates that Paris is steadfast in implementing a policy of de-risking. Nevertheless, France and China have set an example for Europe and other nations in the nuclear energy sector and sustainable energy practices. This collaboration underscores their commitment to carbon reduction and renewable energy production while adhering to the balancing approach in the ever-evolving landscape of geopolitics and geoeconomics.
This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of European Guanxi, its leadership, members, partners, or stakeholders, nor of those of its editors or staff. They have been formulated by the author in their full capacity, and shall not be used for any other purposes other than those they are intended for. European Guanxi assumes no liability or responsibility deriving from the improper use of the contents of this report. Any false facts, errors, and controversial opinions contained in the articles are proper and exclusive of the authors. European Guanxi or its staff and collaborators cannot be held responsible or legally liable for the use of any and all information contained in this document.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kalpana Pandey earned her Master’s degree in International Studies from Christ University in India. She received the Erasmus Mundus scholarship for a study exchange program at ESPOL in France. Her publications examine the intersection of technology and geopolitics, with a focus on EU-Asia relations. Primarily, her research delves into EU-China relations.
This article was edited by Susanna Aghajanyan and Maria Kienzle.
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