There is a risk of a new diplomatic crisis between Italy and France. And this time it's about China, or better, the New Silk Road. The possible signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Italian and Chinese governments has raised a fuss that does not only concern relations between the United States and Italy, but also between Italy and European partners. And as usual it is Paris that accounts for the "lion's share" of those who strike (or they want to strike) Italian interests.
As reported by The Sheet, the same newspaper "came into possession of the draft of the speech given by the French Economy Minister, Bruno Le Maire, he pronounced at the opening of the Global Market Conference of the JP Morgan bank in Paris, accompanied by notes from his cabinet” In this speech, Italy itself ended up in the crosshairs, guilty, according to the minister, of being an element of destabilization of the European Union and the Western economic system.

A new one, yet another, condemnation by the French government of the moves of yellow-green Italy which cannot fail to leave one perplexed. Above all because these are words spoken by a minister who is part of one of the countries most involved in the investment system organized by Beijing. China invests more in France than in Europe. But casually, Paris forgets this detail and attacks Rome just in the vicinity of the visit of Xi Jinping in Italy and the possible signing of the memorandum. All this within the framework of the already very delicate relations between Italy and France also due to the electoral challenge of the campaign for the European Union, which will end in May.
But France can really teach Italy lessons? Not about China. Or better, he can give them for the cunning with which he did business with Beijing. Because unlike Palazzo Chigi, the Elysée has carefully avoided making political endorsements of the great Chinese initiative of the New Silk Road. So Emmanuel Macron and his predecessors made a very smart move, criticism from NATO and the European Union has been avoided over the years, also managing to present itself as a power that challenges China itself in world markets.

An example came in recent weeks from the decision of France and Germany to merge Alstom and Siemens to form a large railway giant that could rival the Chinese giants. A non-causal choice made by Macron and Angela Merkel ,given that it essentially involves identifying a "rival" and identifying China as a geopolitical competitor.
Another example comes from Africa, where Macron has engaged in a real political game to show himself as a rival of China, while the Middle Empire tries to take over the ancient colonial powers on the African continent. Macron's trip to the Horn of Africa, for example, it was a very clear signal.

But in the meantime, while France condemns Italy precisely on the New Silk Road, the territory beyond the Alps continues to be gradually affected by Beijing's investments. The port of Marseille is considered one of the anchors of Via Marittima of large Chinese freighters, while Asian billions have already led to state companies entering other infrastructures, like Toulouse airport. And that Macron's trip to Beijing in 2018 it was a very clear signal: Paris wanted and still wants to be part of the great Chinese project. But in his own way, without showing the world that it is actually already part of Beijing's plans.
source – http://www.occhidellaguerra.it/la-francia-attacca-litalia-sulla-cina-la-farci-affari/