Europe should not follow US or China on Taiwan, says Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that Europe should not align itself with either the United States or China on the issue of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory.
Macron made the remarks during a visit to French overseas territory New Caledonia, where he also expressed support for a “peaceful” resolution of the Taiwan Strait situation.
He said that Europe should have its own voice and vision on the Indo-Pacific region, where tensions have risen over China’s growing assertiveness and military activities.
“We Europeans have our own interests and values to defend and promote,” he said. “We should not be dragged into a binary view of the world where we would have to choose between camps.”
He added that Europe should respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also uphold international law and human rights.
Macron’s comments come amid increasing diplomatic and military contacts between Taiwan and some Western countries, especially the US, which has been sending warships and aircraft through the Taiwan Strait as a show of support for the island.
China considers Taiwan a breakaway province that must be reunited with the mainland by force if necessary. It has denounced any foreign interference or official contacts with Taipei as a violation of its “one China” principle.
Taiwan, which has its own government, constitution and military, says it is an independent country and has the right to defend itself.