French President Macron Defends Taiwan, US Remarks
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
AMSTERDAM (Worthy News) – French President Emmanuel Macron has defended challenging the U.S. superpower status and saying that France should not get caught up in escalating tensions between the United States and China.
He also said that being a U.S. ally did not mean being a “vassal.” Macron made the remarks on his flight back from China, where he met China’s President Xi Jinping to discuss cooperation and ways to end the war in Ukraine.
The French president also said in comments published on Sunday that Europe had no interest in accelerating the crisis over Taiwan and should pursue a strategy independent of both Washington and Beijing.
His comments drew criticism from politicians and other public figures on both sides of the Atlantic.
“Being an ally does not mean being a vassal… doesn’t mean that we don’t have the right to think for ourselves,” Macron stressed at a press conference in the Netherlands during his two-day visit.
The French president also said that nothing had changed in France’s support for the “status quo” in Taiwan and that Paris “supports the One China policy and the search for a peaceful resolution to the situation.”
Former U.S. president Donald J. Trump has accused Macron of cozying up to China – but the French leader said he would not respond to those comments.
The administration of current President Joe Biden tries to play down the remarks saying, “We are comfortable and confident in the terrific bilateral relationship we have with France.”
While he was welcomed by Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima and Prime Minister Mark Rutte, not everyone was enthusiastic: Police tackled and detained a protester running towards the French president in Amsterdam.
The incident occurred as Macron arrived at the University of Amsterdam science campus on the second day of his visit to the Netherlands.
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