Mark Rutte in China: he gives the impression as if he has cycled there leisurely, has parked his bicycle against a Chinese wall somewhere around the corner and now he approaches them waving. Hi Chinese, hai-hai-hai. We actually only knew this enthusiasm from our royal family, but outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte leaves them far behind. He doesn’t have to do folklore or dance, he just has to be himself. Completely relaxed, he makes his way through Chinese shopping streets, stared at by enchanted Chinese people. We are now immune to it, too much has happened and not happened in our own country, but the formula still works abroad.
Mark Rutte in a room of Chinese students, if democracy had a face, it would be his face.
Rutte in a room with Xi Jinping.
Rutte’s arm gestures when Xi Jinping arrived conveyed a boyish look of joy, as if they had already had many adventures.
Then that room where they had ‘the conversations’, between them, on the floor, a field of orange tulips.
Of course, I have no idea what was said in those conversations.
And canceled.
We are completely dependent on Mark Rutte himself for reporting. All pain points were identified, including cyber attacks and the Uyghurs. Furthermore, ‘as a good friend’ I appealed to China regarding Ukraine.
I had no idea that we are such a ‘good friend’ of China; if we can believe Rutte, perhaps one of China’s best friends. What does it say about us that a country like China is a good friend. Are we then everyone’s friend? How hard is it really not to be friends with us?
That is also Rutte.
Everyone is a potential friend until proven otherwise. He has principles, and how easily he overcomes them depends on your height and strength, but in general the road to the heart is short. With Mark, friendship is always a cost-benefit analysis with most weight on the right side.
The ‘forgetfulness’ he encountered with us is only an advantage internationally. Xi Jinping, Trump again soon, Orban: they are not surprised by one more or less lie.
He is like them.
Marcel van Roosmalen writes an exchange column with Ellen Deckwitz here.
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