Nfter the international irritation over President Emmanuel Macron’s comments on Taiwan, the Elysée Palace tried to limit the damage on Tuesday. With a view to the tensions over Taiwan, Macron had said that Europe should not get into crises “that are not ours”. He urged people to distance themselves from America’s China policy.
The Elysée Palace announced on Tuesday that President Macron shares the goal of an “open Indo-Pacific” with US President Joe Biden. In a telephone call, the two heads of state exchanged views on the importance of free trade sea routes before Macron’s trip to China.
Another common goal is to “prevent the increase in risks in the Strait of Formosa”. Biden and Macron also agreed that the Taiwan question would have to be clarified “in dialogue”. President Macron said that to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“Our position on Taiwan is constant”
Macron did not mention the issue in a joint press statement in Beijing. In an interview with the French business newspaper Les Echos, he expressed his understanding for “China’s striving for unity”. The corrected version of the Elysee Palace now states that “our position on Taiwan is constant. We support the status quo and maintain our exchanges and cooperation with Taiwan’s recognized democratic system.”
Nor can it be said that France is at the same distance from the United States and China. “The United States is our allies, we share common values,” it said. China is “a partner, a competitor and a systemic rival”. France aims to share an agenda with China to ease tensions and address major international issues. Multilateralism is the best way to engage China and “prevent world fragmentation.”
Macron had warned the Europeans against getting caught up in a block logic between America and China. This would mean that the Europeans would become “vassals” of America. French President Emmanuel Macron’s demand that Europe should not side with the United States in the Taiwan conflict drew some sharp criticism.
Röttgen: PR coup for Xi Jinping
CDU foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen wrote on Twitter that Macron had managed to turn his trip to China into a PR coup for Chinese President Xi Jinping and a foreign policy disaster for Europe. An attack on Taiwan becomes more likely the more Xi believes Europe will remain neutral in such a conflict. “But we’re not neutral!” said Röttgen.
He told the “Bild” that the economic interests of French companies might be behind Macron’s behavior. FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai told the “Bild” that Macron’s position was not a smart strategy for Europe. “We live in a dangerous world. The US and Europe should therefore work closely together.”
American Senator Marco Rubio said in a video on Twitter on Monday that if Europe doesn’t side with China or the United States on the Taiwan issue, then perhaps the United States shouldn’t side with the Ukraine war either.