The Spanish monarchy as seen from China

The passage of decades has not necessarily deepened knowledge about the Spanish monarchy in the Asian country. Consequently, Felipe VI will land on Monday in China, accompanied by Queen Letizia, with the aim of accelerating not only the development of relations between the two countries, but also significantly.

“The truth is that Chinese people are not familiar with the monarchy in Spain,” admits Shi Zhiqin, a professor of international relations specializing in Europe at the prestigious Tsinghua University. “The general perception is that the main person responsible for political administration is the prime minister. The king is seen as a symbolRepresenting the state. That is why I believe that not only ordinary people, but even intellectuals, may not be completely clear about the role of the King of Spain in public life.”

The beds and even the aesthetics, as always, help. Yanhui, an owner of a painted duck restaurant in central Beijing in his 50s, had fallen in love with Pedro Sanchez in the past. “How handsome he is, he looks like Alain Delon,” she said, stroking his features on the mobile phone screen. This Monday, the joy of receiving the Kings does not compensate for the displeasure of knowing that the Princess of Asturias will not accompany them. “They are all very handsome,” says the resigned woman.

Rafael Martin Rodriguez, who has taught international relations classes at Fudan University for six years, devotes himself to turning this superficiality into a starting point and telling the raw tale. “The first question was always whether the king ruled or not.Which prompted me to explain the entire transition process to my students. “They immediately made the comparison with the English monarchy, about which they had more knowledge,” explains the co-author of “An Introduction to Present-day China” (Alianza Editorial, 2024).

The strange character of the constitutional monarch shows a contradictory duality in China. On the one hand, its apolitical nature facilitates interaction. On the other hand, the fact that the head of state lacks effective power poses a conceptual challenge to an increasingly hierarchical and personalistic system under Xi Jinping, who on Tuesday will serve a private dinner for the monarchs at their official residence.

A symbol of maturity

The arrival of Felipe VI marks the first visit by a Spanish king in 18 years. “The King of the United Kingdom or the Emperor of Japan rarely participate in diplomatic exchanges, so when they travel to a country they show the importance given to that relationship,” Xi says. “The same thing is happening this time. I believe that the King’s visit is a symbol of the maturity, stability and depth of cooperation between China and Spain.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed itself in the same sense these days, declaring:A trip of great importance» to “exchange views on bilateral relations and international issues of common interest.” “Under the strategic guidance of the presidents of the two countries, Sino-Spanish relations have maintained a high level of development in recent years,” the organization added, once again stepping back from public misunderstanding regarding the functions of the monarch.

Now Spain intends that the presence of Don Felipe and Doña Letizia will establish a new model of interaction, an ambition expressed on a symbolic level in their refusal to visit the famous panda sanctuary on their way via Chengdu. These animals previously played a starring role in the voyage of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia in 1978, when Deng Xiaoping He gave them a couple.

Sources involved in the organization confirm the strategic focus of the trip, and that it will reformulate the relationship with China. It means not repeating previous gestures. With curiosity about the crown, at least, satisfied.