Macron puzzles senior Taiwanese official

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
12 Apr 2023 15:46

Following last week's trip to China, the French president sowed confusion among Taiwanese officials after his unanticipated suggestion that Europe must not "follow" US policy on Taiwan.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron met last week in Beijing. (AFP)

A senior Taiwanese politician was left bristling following French President Emmanuel Macron's remarks, revealing that he was 'puzzled', and further wondering whether "France's founding ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity are now out of fashion."

Macron warned during his China visit against getting drawn into a crisis over Taiwan fueled by an "American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction".

The French President also urged during an interview on a trip to China intended to demonstrate European unity on China policy, the European Union to become a "third pole" in world affairs and lessen its reliance on the United States alongside Washington and Beijing.

You Si-kun, the speaker of the Taiwanese parliament, questioned France's devotion to freedom in a post on Facebook late on Tuesday, which was posted above a screenshot of news about Macron's remarks on Taiwan.

"Are 'liberté, égalité, fraternité' out of fashion?," he wrote, in reference to the official French motto of "liberty, equality, fraternity".

"Is it OK just to ignore this once it's part of the constitution? Or can advanced democratic countries ignore the lives and deaths of people in other countries?" added You, one of the founders of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

"The actions of President Macron, a leading international democracy, leave me puzzled," he further stated.

On Tuesday, Taiwan's foreign ministry attempted to downplay Macron's comments while stating that they had "noted" them.

"The Foreign Ministry expresses its thanks to France for expressing concern about peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait many times and in many different international venues," including, for example at the recent French-British leaders summit, spokesperson Jeff Liu told jounralists. "This is a continuation of France's consistent stance and position."

'Ambiguity'

Last week, Macron discussed Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit in which he was feted, but more hardline EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was largely ignored.

According to his Elysee Palace, the talks were "dense and frank," and the French president was concerned about "growing tensions in the region" that could lead to "a terrible accident."

Macron added that the island of Taiwan was just one region where there was a potential for "an acceleration of tensions breaking out between the duopoly" of China and the US.

If confrontation escalates fast, Europeans would run out of time and would lack the resources to finance the strategic autonomy, he said, suggesting that the EU build a "third pole."

Macron has long sought Europe's development as an independent geostrategic player, following in the footsteps of the Fifth Republic founding president Charles de Gaulle, who regarded France as a balancing power between Cold War blocs.