French President Emmanuel Macron has defended his recent remarks regarding Taiwan, in which he stated that France should not become involved in an escalation between the United States and China.
He made the remarks during a weekend interview following his three-day state visit to China, reports BBC.
Being a US ally did not mean being a “vassal”, he also said.
Politicians and other public figures on both sides of the Atlantic have criticized his statements.
However, on a visit to the Netherlands on Wednesday, he stated that he stood by his views, said the report.
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“Being an ally does not mean being a vassal... doesn’t mean that we don’t have the right to think for ourselves,” Macron told a press conference in the Netherlands.
Macron also stated that France’s support for the “status quo” in Taiwan had not altered and that Paris “supports the One China policy and the search for a peaceful resolution to the situation.”
Meanwhile, the White House has downplayed the statements, saying the Biden administration is “comfortable and confident in the terrific bilateral relationship we have with France.”
Taiwan’s foreign ministry took a similar approach but stated that it “noted” Macron’s remarks.
A top Taiwanese official, on the other hand, was “puzzled” by the comments.
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“Are ‘liberté, égalité, fraternité’ out of fashion?” – wrote Taiwan’s parliament speaker You Si-kun on social media, referring to France’s motto.
According to some analysts, Macron’s remarks signal that the US is equally to blame for the escalating tensions over Taiwan, making it more difficult for the EU to take a tougher stance with Beijing.
Meanwhile, China has appreciated Macron’s statements and stated that it is not surprised by the criticism, added the report.
“Some countries do not want to see other nations become independent and self-reliant, and instead always want to coerce other countries into obeying their will,” China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said.
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Taiwan, with its own constitution and democratically chosen leaders, sees itself as different from the Chinese mainland.
However, Beijing regards Taiwan as a breakaway province that will inevitably fall under Chinese rule and has never renounced the use of force to achieve this.
While the United States diplomatically recognizes China’s view that there is only one Chinese government, President Joe Biden has pledged to engage militarily to support Taiwan if it is attacked, the report said.
Beijing began practising the encirclement of Taiwan earlier this week during days of military manoeuvres regarded as retaliation to the recent meeting between Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
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President Tsai said on Saturday that her administration will continue to collaborate with the US and other democracies while the island faces “continued authoritarian expansionism” from China.