PARIS: France’s President Emmanuel Macron has warned that Europe must not become a “follower” of either the US or China on Taiwan, saying that the bloc risks being caught up in “crises that aren’t ours”.
In an interview with French business daily Les Echos and Politico, published on Sunday, Macron stated that Europe should not be caught up in a bloc versus bloc logic, highlighting divisions in the European Union over how to approach China.
Macron’s comments risked riling Washington and were made as the US steps up its confrontation with China and Beijing draws closer to Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine.
Macron said that “we must be clear where our views overlap with the US, but whether it’s about Ukraine, relations to China or sanctions, we have a European strategy.”
French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the issue of Taiwan with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday during his visit to Beijing, where he was warmly received. However, the more hawkish EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was not given as much attention.
Macron’s office described the talks as “dense and frank” and stated that the French President expressed concerns about the “growing tensions in the region” that could result in “a terrible accident.”
China considers democratic, self-governed Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to seize it by force if necessary.
China’s massive military exercises around Taiwan
Following Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week, Beijing responded with massive military exercises around the island, including simulated strikes on Taiwanese territory. These exercises began immediately after Macron’s departure from China for France.
Macron’s warning comes as Taiwan is just one area that risks “an acceleration of tensions breaking out between the duopoly” of China and the US.
Macron added that if the confrontation escalates too quickly, European Nations “would not have the time or the resources to finance our strategic autonomy and will become vassals, whereas we can build a third pole if we have a few years”.
For several years, Macron has aimed for Europe to establish itself as a self-sufficient and independent player in the field of geostrategy.
This goal is consistent with the tradition of Charles de Gaulle, the founding President of the Fifth Republic, who viewed France as a mediator between the Cold War blocs.
