The French maneuvering is choice. The cadre cannot gives up its wine cellars, and the idea of a spring without Frog style is daunting. Now Sarkozy tries that neat word finesse. The cadre is not certain what is to be done. Without Paris, what is the point of the cadre's special access to stores in Cadreville?
Sarkozy Aims to Limit Chinese Anger
Over Paris Olympic Torch Protests
By STACY MEICHTRY
April 21, 2008 5:39 p.m.
PARIS -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy has launched a diplomatic offensive aimed at quelling Chinese anger over protests that marred the Olympic torch's recent journey through the French capital.
On Monday Christian Poncelet, president of the French Senate, traveled to Shanghai carrying a letter from Mr. Sarkozy to Jin Jing, a wheel-chair bound torchbearer who has become a symbol of Chinese outrage after she was photographed shielding the Olympic flame from a lunging pro-Tibetan protester.
Mr. Poncelet was expected to deliver a separate letter from Mr. Sarkozy to Chinese President Hu Jintao later in the week.
The gesture underscores the fine line Western politicians must walk in safeguarding business ties in China as they seek to pressure Beijing to improve its human rights record.
In the wake of Beijing's crackdown in Tibet, Mr. Sarkozy has refused to say whether he'll attend the opening ceremony of the Games in Beijing, calling for dialogue between the Dalai Lama and China's government.
His position, along with disruptions to the torch relay in Paris, has helped fan the flames of public criticism of France in China.
Chinese protesters gathered in front of French retailer Carrefour in several Chinese cities this weekend, demanding a boycott of French goods. Chinese chat rooms and Web sites, meanwhile, have been awash in rumors accusing Carrefour, China's largest foreign retailer, of supporting the Dalai Lama -- an allegation the retailer denies.
It was the images of Ms. Jin being assailed by a protester as she carried the torch in Paris, however, that initially sparked the Chinese backlash. The ensuing chaos forced organizers to call off the relay halfway through its planned trip through Paris, ushering the Olympic flame inside a heavily-guarded bus.
In his letter addressed to "Mademoiselle Jin Jing," Mr. Sarkozy described the disruption as "inadmissible" and praised Ms. Jin's "courage." Mr. Sarkozy also invited Ms. Jin to return to Paris as his "personal guest."
Former prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin is expected to travel to China to meet Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. Jean-David Levitte, one of Mr. Sarkozy's top foreign policy advisors, is expected to follow.
It is unclear, however, how Mr. Sarkozy's efforts to charm the Chinese public will play at home, where the French President is struggling to regain popularity.
The Paris city council Monday named the Dalai Lama and Chinese dissident Hu Jia "honorary citizens" of Paris.
Write to Stacy Meichtry at stacy.meichtry@wsj.com
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