French President Emmanuel Macron asserted on Sunday that Europe has no interest in escalating the crisis over Taiwan and must pursue an independent strategy from both Washington and Beijing. He stated that Europe should not speed up this conflict but instead take the necessary time to establish itself as a third pole between China and the United States. In remarks made to French newspapers Les Echos and Politico during his visit to China, Macron expressed that "the worst thing is to believe that we, Europeans, should become followers in this matter and adapt to the American rhythm or the exaggerated Chinese reaction."
He emphasized that Europe needs to better fund its defense sector, develop nuclear and renewable energy, and reduce its reliance on the dollar to lessen its dependence on the United States. The joint interview took place on a flight from Beijing to Guangzhou on Friday. Macron's three-day state visit to China was met with a warm welcome from President Xi Jinping, during which he was accompanied by a delegation of 50 officials representing companies, including Airbus and EDF, which signed deals during the visit.
This visit coincided with China commencing military exercises around Taiwan the day before, in response to a meeting between Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday. China considers Taiwan, which enjoys democratic governance, a breakaway territory and has continually threatened to bring it under its control by force. The Taiwanese government strongly opposes China's claims.
