Macron criticized for comments on Taiwan

French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks on the Taiwan issue on his way back from a visit to China continue to stir up controversy in Europe and the United States, but he does not think he is wrong. Speaking in the Netherlands on April 12th, he said he “fully claimed” two interviews published by the media.

On Wednesday, during a state visit to the Netherlands, Macron reiterated to the press that being an “ally” of the United States does not mean being a “vassal.” His Finance minister Jean-Yves Le Maire also said in Washington on the same day that France is a trusted ally of the United States, but that France also needs to talk to China.

Macron spoke of his cherished “European strategic autonomy” in an interview with Les Echos and Politico political websites on the plane on his way back from a state visit to China on April 6 and 7.

Yet, ignoring America’s heavy investment in European security, especially since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the French president self-righteously explained his appeal: “The worst thing is to think that we Europeans should be followers on this issue, adapting to the pace of the Americans and the overreaction of the Chinese,” Macron added. “If the duopoly accelerates, we will have no time or means to fund our strategic autonomy and will become vassals, whereas if we have a few years to build it, “We can be the third pole,” the head of state continued. “We don’t want to fall into a two-camp logic.

Macron’s remarks in 2019 about the “brain death” of NATO, and in June 2022, when he said a diplomatic way out should be found without humiliating Russia when the war with Ukraine ends, sparked widespread criticism from Allies. However, Macron continues to cause misunderstandings, according to an analysis cited by Le Monde, one after another “misunderstanding” raises questions about the direction of French foreign policy. Provoking widespread discontent among America and its EU neighbours.

“The timing is unfortunate,” said Mujtaba Rahman, an analyst at the London School of Economics’ European Institute. To make these comments when China is starting drills to encircle Taiwan, and after his state visit to China — it’s a mistake.” “This will be interpreted as a conciliatory gesture towards Beijing and a green light for Chinese aggression. Macron’s comments have understandably raised eyebrows in Taiwan, where one Taiwan analyst worries: “The Elysee’s stance means that France and Europe risk giving up fundamental values for the sake of relations with China.”

By putting the US and China back to back, suggesting that France would remain neutral and silent in the event of a war over Taiwan, and that Europe would refuse to engage in a Sino-US duel due to a “third way”, Macron is distancing himself from an issue that could be caught in a storm for years to come, according to Le Figaro’s analysis. According to him, Europe must stay away from “crises that are not its own.” As if it could distance itself from China’s forcible annexation of Taiwan without consequence.