After shaking the West, Emmanuel Macron’s little sentence on Taiwan is applauded in China. During his trip to China, the French president told the American site Politico and the economic daily The echoes that Europe should not align itself with the United States or China in the event of a conflict over Taiwan. Comments published after his return to Paris.
In the event of a conflict in Taiwan, “the worst thing would be to think that we Europeans should be followers” and “adapt to the American rhythm and to a Chinese overreaction”, estimated the Head of State, pleading for a “strategic autonomy” of the European Union. The island of 23 million inhabitants is the subject of a bitter rivalry between Beijing, which claims its sovereignty over this territory which it does not control, and Washington, Taiwan’s main ally and arms supplier.
“Words of Truth”
These comments by Emmanuel Macron are “obviously the fruit of long-standing observation and reflection”, believes the GlobalTimes, a daily close to the Chinese authorities. And to evoke “words of truth” in an article published on Tuesday. “Some want to build a false Europe in public opinion, and hide the real voices and interests” of Europeans, criticizes the newspaper with its often acerbic editorials.
This position taken by the French head of state “will prove to be a brilliant decision” because it reflects “an opposition to a new cold war”, greets journalist Chen Weihua, correspondent in Brussels for the China Daily, an official daily newspaper published in English. “Macron’s ideas are very good,” said a user on the social network Weibo, in tune with many other comments.
Welcomed with all honors
Emmanuel Macron was welcomed last week as a star in China, with in particular scenes of euphoria before a meeting with students in Canton (south). The Chinese media also did not fail to underline Xi Jinping’s choice treatment of his guest, received with all honors.
However, it is “unrealistic” to think that France will side with China in the event of a conflict with the United States, warns the influential Hu Xijin, former editor of the GlobalTimes and herald of Chinese nationalism. Europe and the United States “have common values and are bound by NATO”, he wrote to his subscribers on the Weibo social network. Former US President Donald Trump accused Emmanuel Macron of “licking China’s ass” after his visit to Beijing, during an interview broadcast on Tuesday.