French President Emmanuel Macron said sending a French frigate to Taiwan showed Paris’ commitment to regional security in East Asia, but reiterated his position that France would not act as a “vassal” by following US hardliners in a conflict over the self-governing islandwrites the European edition of “Politico”.
“Being allies does not mean being vassals… Just because we are allies, just because we do things that we have decided to do together, does not mean that we do not have the right to think for ourselves and that we will follow the most extreme people in a country that is our ally,” Macron said during at a joint press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, during his visit to the Netherlands.
“When we look at the facts, France has nothing to learn from anyone, not in Ukraine, not in the Sahel, not in Taiwan,” Macron said.
His comments come after he told Politico and French newspaper Echo that Europe should avoid being drawn into conflicts that are not its business and should not act as a “follower” of the US when it comes to defending Taiwan. His remarks raised deep concerns about the transatlantic alliance at a time when the United States provides the largest share of military aid to Ukraine and communist China is making increasingly bellicose moves toward Taiwan.
China considers the island part of its territory, a claim rejected by Taipei. “It would be a paradox if, overcome by panic, we believe that we are simply followers of America,” Macron said in the interview.
Responding to repeated questions about those comments, the French president said his position was “very clear” and said his comment had not prompted a response from the White House.
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“The position of France and the Europeans is the same regarding Taiwan. We are for the status quo and this policy is permanent, it has not changed, it is the policy of one China and the search for a peaceful settlement of the issue,” Macron said, noting , that “this position has always been compatible with the role of allies”.
Defending Macron’s words, French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire accused Washington of applying double standardswhen it comes to trade with China.
“Some, for example in the United States, say that we should completely separate the Western economies, American or European, from the Chinese economy. What I see is that the volume of trade between China and the United States has never been so high… . .we want Europe to abandon the trade that has increased between the United States and China… . We don’t want to be the village idiots who screw up and allow other powers to trade with China while we no longer have the right to do so.”
Le Maire declined to answer reporters who asked him if he would visit Taiwan if invited.
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