On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe should adopt a strategy independent of Washington and Beijing and not escalate the Taiwan conflict.
President Xi Jinping welcomed Macron on a three-day state visit to China. China conducted drills surrounding Taiwan on Saturday in retaliation for President Tsai Ing-meeting wen’s with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday.
China has never stopped using force to annex democratic Taiwan. Taiwan’s government opposes China’s claims.
During his visit to China, Macron told French publication Les Echos and Politico that Europe should take time to strengthen its position as a third pole between China and the US.
“The worst thing would be to imagine that we Europeans must become followers on this matter and adhere to the American pace or a Chinese overreaction,” he told Politico.
He told both media sites that Europe must invest in its defense sector, develop nuclear and renewable energy, and minimize its dollar dependence to lessen its need on the US.
Friday’s Beijing-Guangzhou flight hosted the joint interview.
An aide to Macron told reporters in Guangzhou on Friday that Xi and Macron had a “dense and candid” conversation about Taiwan.
“The president’s opinion is that we should be sure there’s no accident or an escalation of tensions (that may lead) to the Chinese going on the attack,” the Elysée aide said.
Macron and a 50-person corporate delegation, including Airbus and EDF, made deals in China.
Comment Template