AMID China’s ongoing military drills around Taiwan, French President Emmanuel Macron is advising the European Union (EU) not to follow the ways of America, especially in fueling the tension between the 2 countries.
Following French President Emmanuel Macron’s 3-day visit to China, the latter country began a 3-day military exercise dubbed ‘united sharp sword’ around Taiwan over the weekend.
This follows Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen’s visit to the United States which Beijing strongly condemned and warned against prior to it happening.
And in a show of force on Monday, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer US S Milius sailed through the disputed waters in the South China Sea to conduct a freedom of navigation operation despite heightened tensions between the 2 Asian countries.
It can be recalled that aboard Cotam Unité – France’s air force one – French President Macron boldly said while being interviewed by journalists that,
“The paradox would be that, overcome with panic, we believe we are just America’s followers.”
“The question Europeans need to answer… is it in our interest to accelerate a crisis on Taiwan? No. 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,” said President Emmanuel Macron, France.
According to the French president, the great risk Europe faces is being caught up in crises that are not theirs.
During Macron’s visit to China, the French President was also partly accompanied by European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen.
There, she told Chinese President Xi Jinping that ‘stability in the Taiwan Strait is of paramount importance’ and that ‘the threat of the use of force to change the status quo is unacceptable’.
In response, Xi said that anyone who thought they could influence Beijing on Taiwan was deluded.
And in what appears to be in agreement with Xi, Macron told Von der Leyen,
“Europeans cannot resolve the crisis in Ukraine; how can we credibly say on Taiwan, ‘watch out, if you do something wrong we will be there’? If you really want to increase tensions that are the way to do it,” said President Macron.
Macron’s trip reaps fruitful results
And to sum up, Macron’s visit to China, Paris, and Beijing inked 18 agreements to expand cooperation in areas including manufacturing, green development, new energy, and innovation at a meeting of Chinese and French entrepreneurs last week.
In a Twitter post, Macron said referring to China,
“There is so much for us to do together. Long live the friendship between China and France!
I firmly believe that China plays a vital role in building peace,” said President Macron.
Macron and Xi discuss various geopolitical issues
And to give his analysis of what recently transpired between the 2 said countries is Fraser Cameron, Senior Advisor of the European Policy Center.
“The first thing I’d say is important…A genuine European affair as well,” said Fraser Cameron, Senior advisor, European Policy Center.
Meanwhile, Professor Wang Yiwei of the School of International Studies at the Renmin University of China, also commented that China is not a threat to France or the European Union.
“I think this joint communiqué indicates that China is not a so-called challenge, threat or rival to France, or in general the European Union, but a solution or partner to help Europe and France do translation from digital and green translation. So make focus on the civilian nuclear plant and also third-party market, and also for our green and low carbon energy. I think that’s very fruitful,” said Wang Yiwei, Professor School of International Studies, Renmin University of China.
It can be noted that China and France are both permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council and both have a responsibility to promote international peace.
Aside from discussing the conflict between Russia and Ukraine as well as the dispute between China and Taiwan, the leaders also tackled other issues including North Korea, Syria, and Iran.
