French president Macron causes stir with Taiwan comment during China visit – National | 24CA News
French President Emmanuel Macron has induced a stir by saying Europe has little interest in accelerating the battle in Taiwan and may change into a “third pole” impartial of each Washington and Beijing.
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Political actors on each side of the Atlantic criticized the president’s place as being too accommodating of China, simply because it carries out army drills round Taiwan.
In an interview with French newspaper Les Echos and Politico throughout his three-day go to to China final week, Macron mentioned “the worst thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and adapt to the American rhythm or a Chinese overreaction.”
China views democratically ruled Taiwan as its personal territory and has by no means renounced the usage of pressure to carry the island below its management. Taiwan’s authorities strongly objects to China’s claims.
German MP for the Bundestag’s overseas committee Norbert Roettgen mentioned in a tweet that Macron had “managed to turn his China trip into a PR coup for Xi and a foreign policy disaster for Europe.” He added that the French president was “increasingly isolating himself in Europe.”
In a video posted on Twitter, U.S. senator Marco Rubio drew parallels with the battle in Ukraine – on which Macron hopes to enlist the assistance of China.
If Europe doesn’t “pick sides between the U.S. and China over Taiwan, then maybe we shouldn’t be picking sides either [on Ukraine],” the Republican senator mentioned.
Pascal Confavreux, spokesperson for the French embassy within the United States, mentioned that Macron’s feedback had been overinterpreted.
“The US is our ally with whom we share our values,” he mentioned on Twitter.
The Elysee didn’t reply to requests for remark.
— Reporting by Layli Foroudi and Michel Rose; Editing by Christina Fincher
© 2023 Thomson Reuters
