French Diplomat: Macron Stands Firm on Strategic Autonomy Comments

A senior French diplomat, who requested anonymity, stated on Wednesday that President Emmanuel Macron will not back down from comments he made in China, where he urged the European Union to reduce its reliance on the United States. In an interview with Politico and Les Echos, the diplomat warned against getting drawn into a crisis over Taiwan, driven by "American rhythms and an exaggerated Chinese reaction." In this context, the French diplomat pointed out that the essence of what Macron conveyed, which focuses on his preferred project for Europe's strategic autonomy, is "clear," and that Macron's stance on Taiwan and China has not changed, emphasizing that "this is something the president fully stands by." Macron's remarks faced criticism on both sides of the Atlantic, with former U.S. President Donald Trump accusing the French president of pandering to the Chinese president during his visit to Beijing last week.