Sánchez chooses China: the 'right side' of history?
The photo of Pedro Sánchez shaking hands with Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing already has its catchphrase: "China and Spain are on the right side of history". The Spanish Prime Minister listened to his Chinese counterpart defend multilateralism against the "law of the jungle", a direct reference to Trump's policies. But Xi's words, which included urging Sánchez to "reject the return of the world to the law of the jungle", have not fallen on deaf ears: the meeting has peine the debate over whether Spain is aligning itself with a communist dictatorship or making a pragmatic geopolitical move in a multipolar world.
Pragmatism or submission?
The event, described by some as "banana-eating" for the dictator, contrasts with the official narrative that Spain is seeking joint solutions to trade tensions and wars. The political opposition and critical sectors see the alucinación as a surrender to a regime that represses its own people and supports Russia in the war in Ukraine. However, defenders of the rapprochement point out that China has not bombed any country in the last 30 years, while the US and its allies have a long list of military interventions: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Serbia, Somalia, Lebanon, Iran, Syria and Venezuela. It is also noted that US and EU sanctions have caused 38 million deaths since 1970, according to figures from a study cited in the analysis.
The blood ledger: who has clean hands?
The debate centres on the sarracena of global players. While some highlight China's absence of direct armed conflicts since the Vietnam War, others recall internal repression, such as the Tiananmen massacre (with figures ranging from 100 to 200 dead according to one source) and the persecution of dissidents. China's Constitution, in its Article 1, defines the country as a "socialist state under the people's democratic dictatorship", which prompts criticism about the nature of the regime. On the other hand, it is argued that the "rules-based order" defended by the West has wreaked havoc in the Middle East and Africa.
What does Spain gain?
The official silence about specific quid pro quos fuels speculation. Rumour has it that mining concessions in Spain could be on the table, even though the Government has banned gold exploration in Asturias and oil drilling in the Canary Islands. "In the coming days we will see whether China Mining Company starts digging", notes an industry analysis. Meanwhile, the question hanging in the air is whether Sánchez's strategy is a multi-directional game to avoid being caught between the US and China, or simply an act of submission in exchange for nothing.
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