AMSTERDAM: French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that he stood by his comments on Taiwan and the US-China escalation over the disputed island.
After his three-day visit to China, Macron had said France should not get caught up between the US and China over Taiwan.
He had also said that being an ally of the US did not mean being a “vassal”.
The French president’s remarks had drawn criticism from his detractors, politicians and other public figures on both sides of the Atlantic.
During a visit to the Netherlands, Macron said that he stood by the comments.
At a press conference the Netherlands, Macron repeated his previous comments saying being an ally of the US did not mean being a vassal. It didn’t mean that they don’t have the right to think for themselves.
He also said that nothing had changed in France’s support for the “status quo” in Taiwan and that his country “supports the One China policy and the search for a peaceful resolution to the situation.”
Earlier, former US president Donald Trump accused Macron of cosying up to China, but Macron said that he would not respond to those comments.
Meanwhile, the White House has played down Macron’s remarks, stating that the Biden administration remained “comfortable and confident in the terrific bilateral relationship the US has with France”.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry took a similar stance and said it “noted” Macron’s comments.
A senior Taiwanese official, however, said his remarks left him “puzzled”.
