Paulo Rangel, Portugal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs — at least for now — came over and said what people like to hear: the importance of Macau, the “intangible heritage” of the diaspora — the “historical legacy,” the promised future “in the Greater Bay Area.” And while he was at it… the long-missed “priority,” which hadn’t been mentioned in a while, of the relationship with China. A self-declared conservative and staunch Atlanticist, Rangel joins the ranks of Europeans uncomfortable with the “crazy man” occupying the White House. Better late than never.
There’s that elephant in the room that the speech doesn’t address: in Portugal, “we don’t grasp the importance of Macau, of the connection with China, of this historical relationship and positioning in the Greater Bay Area,” sums up António Costa Silva (see interview — pages 5 to 7). Rather than destroying the message, what matters is the core issue: that strange thing called planning, following through on strategies, measuring results — it just doesn’t stick to the Portuguese way of doing things. It’s urgent we take a good look in the mirror and have a real conversation — not just throw around lofty words.
Europe doesn’t act — it reacts. That’s the role it plays in modern times. Lisbon, as always, reacts to Brussels’ reaction. The European train runs on two speeds: the pivot countries move by steam; the rest drag along without an engine. “Europe must rely on itself,” Merkel warned, when she collided with Trump’s first term in 2016. With Covid and the war in Ukraine, the former German chancellor was publicly vilified — by the same people who once followed her when she had power and money — and they quickly pivoted to Biden’s Atlantic messianism, and to demonising Xi Jinping.
Has the world turned upside down? Yes — and no. Because two opposing truths travel in the same carriage. The turn to the East, on an express ticket, isn’t structural — it’s a state of necessity. Europe isn’t taking care of itself; maybe one day it’ll carve out its destiny. For now, it follows the trail to a new altar. China’s performance is striking: after an unprecedented pandemic paralysis, it’s leaving the United States miles behind in the new order of things — sustainable energy, technology, robotics, artificial intelligence… and redemption in consumer markets. Europe is already buying a seat in the front row. Fair enough. As they’ve long said in Brazil and Portuguese-speaking Africa: better two empires than one hegemonic pope. That’s the power of those who’ve been kept on the margins.
So let’s get to it, Mr. Minister: business as usual. Lisbon wants to use Macau? We’re here. Perhaps this time you’ll see who’s actually here — really see — something that hasn’t been done for decades. Perhaps you’ll understand, without standing on tiptoes, how people here survive, grow, and emerge — even though they’ve never had access to Lisbon’s kind of fuel. Over there, no one reads, no one listens, and no one envisions the horizon; there’s a lot of talk, but no understanding of what’s happening here — or what’s to come. I insist: we’re here for that. Maybe things will change; let’s pretend to believe there’s a clear and consistent political plan; that companies will come here; that critical mass and investment will follow; that there is real awareness of the intangible heritage — which Praça do Comércio does not have, unless it’s election time, or when cheques flow from here to there.
Why not? After all, there’s nothing to lose. Those of us on this side — who’ve never had anything from the centre — will continue to be here, using what we know and whatever tools we can. If there’s more than this, we grow together, Mr. Minister. If not, at least the rhetoric has changed. We know how to use that too — at the very least. In truth, we’ve always made do with what we have; we’ve never been able to be here with what we’ve never had.
*Director-General of PLATAFORMA
