According to the editorial carried by Huanqiu.com and reports by outlets such as Bannedbook, President Emmanuel Macron hosted about 60 European auto-industry figures at the Elysee on the evening of October 11. The Elysee said guests were firms with long-term investment in Europe, and Chinese carmakers were reportedly not on the list. The dinner focused on protecting and strengthening Europe's auto industry.

The editorial's argument

The Global Times argued that the motor show is known for openness and competition, so a closed dinner excluding Chinese firms does not fit France's claimed great-power ambitions. It said consumers look at products, prices and service rather than who sat at the table, and that the move would have limited effect on Chinese firms while hurting France's image.

The editorial pointed to France having pushed EU countervailing duties on Chinese electric vehicles two years ago, adding carbon-footprint rules to purchase subsidies, and using the pending Industrial Accelerator Act to curb Chinese investment and public procurement. It read this as strategic anxiety rather than strength.

Against decoupling, for dialogue

It said China has become a main production and innovation base for batteries, electric vehicles, charging equipment and smart cars, with deep ties to firms such as Volkswagen, BMW and Bosch, so decoupling is unrealistic. It argued Europe must choose between an open, competitive industry and a protected greenhouse, and that its real weakness is the digital economy.

The editorial cited the 16-item consensus list from the second regular meeting of the China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism as a positive signal and urged France to drop what it called saying one thing in public and another in private. These are the Global Times' arguments; France's official response was not confirmed.