TAIPEI (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks about Taiwan are baffling, a senior Taiwanese politician said, suggesting that France’s founding ideals of freedom, equality and fraternity are now outdated. I don’t think so.
In an interview during a visit to China to show European unity on China policy, Macron warned against being dragged into the Taiwan crisis driven by “American rhythms and Chinese overreactions”.
He also called for the European Union to become less dependent on the United States and become the “third pole” of world affairs alongside Washington and Beijing.
Taiwan’s parliamentary speaker You Si-kun wrote on his Facebook late Tuesday about a screenshot of a report on Macron’s comments on Taiwan, questioning France’s commitment to freedom.
“Is ‘Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité’ obsolete?” he wrote, referring to the official French motto, “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.” “Once it’s part of the constitution, can we ignore it, or can advanced democracies ignore the life and death of people in other countries?” said the founder of Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party. added You, one of the “President Macron’s actions leading international democracy confuse me.”
China has been conducting military drills across Taiwan since Saturday after Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen visited the United States and met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
France, like most countries, does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which China claims, but maintains a de facto embassy in Taipei, stressing the need for peace across the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry said Tuesday it had tried to downplay Mr Macron’s remarks but had “taken note” of his remarks. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs appreciates France’s concerns about peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait on numerous occasions in various international forums,” said the head of state and government at the recent Franco-British summit. told reporters, including leaders. “This is a continuation of France’s consistent stance and position.”
French President Emmanuel Macron met with President Xi Jinping in China and “kissed him on the buttocks,” Donald Trump said.
For the former U.S. president to make his first mainstream media appearance since being indicted in New York, Tucker, the host of his news on Fox, met with Carlson.
In an extensive interview, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate said the United States had lost influence in the world since he left office.
“You have this crazy world, it’s exploding, and the US has nothing to say,” he told Carlson.
“And my friend Macron is ending ties with China and kissing his ass. Okay, in China! I said, ‘France is now going to China.'”
Macron caused a storm after a state visit to China last week in which he cautioned Europeans should not chain themselves to US foreign policy.
In remarks to journalists Macron said European countries should not get caught in the tense standoff between Beijing and Washington over the fate of Taiwan.
China has vowed to regain control of Taiwan, while the US government pledges to help Taiwan defend itself.
Macron, who discussed Taiwan with Xi on Friday, warned against Europe being “caught up in crises that are not ours, which prevents it from building its strategic autonomy.”
“The paradox would be that, overcome with panic, we believe we are just America’s followers,” Macron said. “The worse thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and take our cue from the US agenda and a Chinese overreaction.”
The remarks sparked unease in Washington, although the White House sought to play them down, with spokesman John Kirby saying the Biden administration remains “comfortable and confident in the terrific bilateral relationship we have with France.”
