Categories: World

French President Macron rejects ‘American rhythm’ on Taiwan, nods to China’s ‘unity’ after meeting with Xi

close Video

France’s President Macron says Europe must resist pressure to become America’s ‘followers’

Patrice Onwuka discusses Macron’s calls to reduce dependency on the U.S.

French President Emmanuel Macron, following a trip to Beijing in which he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, said in a new interview Sunday he does not believe Europe should follow the “American rhythm” on Taiwan. 

“We don’t want to get into a bloc versus bloc logic,” Macron said in an interview for French business daily Les Echo, arguing that Europe “should not be caught up in a disordering of the world and crises that aren’t ours.”

“The question asked of us Europeans is the following: is it in our interest for there to be acceleration on the topic of Taiwan? No. The worst thing we Europeans could do would be to be followers on this topic and to adapt to the American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction,” he said. “Why should we go at a rhythm chosen by someone else?”

TAIWAN RESIDENTS AGREE US WILL NOT COME TO THEIR AID IF CHINA INVADES, ARE DIVIDED ON THREAT LEVEL

“As Europeans, our concern is our unity,” Macron added, according to German broadcaster Deutsche Welle. “The Chinese are also concerned with their unity, and Taiwan is a component [of this unity] from their point of view.”

French President Emmanuel Macron meets the French community, in Beijing. Macron recently said he wanted France to establish more autonomy rather than following the U.S. or China on world issues.  (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Macron, facing domestic turmoil amid large scale demonstrations over pension reforms, traveled to China last week with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a show of European unity with Beijing. 

Macron, who reportedly spoke to reporters of establishing “strategic autonomy” and making France a “third pole” superpower on equal grounds as the U.S. and China, rather than becoming a “vassal” of other states, planned to urge Xi in talks Thursday to use Beijing’s influence with Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

DISORDERLY PROTESTS HIT FRANCE FOR THE 11TH DAY, BUT NUMBER OF STRIKERS FALLS  

Presidents Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron talk in the garden of the Guandong province governor’s residence, in Guangzhou, China. Macron said China was concerned about “unity” with Taiwan. (Jacques Witt, Pool via AP)

In a speech to French residents of China, Macron said he would “try to build, and somehow engage China toward a shared responsibility for peace and stability on international issues,” including Ukraine, Iran and North Korea.

Meanwhile, China’s military declared Monday it is “ready to fight” after completing three days of large-scale combat exercises around Taiwan that simulated sealing off the island. The drills came in response to Taiwanese President’s Tsai Ing-wen’s trip to the U.S. last week when she met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. 

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy welcomes Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen as she arrives at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu, File)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, urged more weapon sales to Taiwan to help deter any Chinese invasion. “They’re not where they need to be. If we want deference for peace, we need to get these weapons into Taiwan,” McCaul said, according to News Nation. “I sign off on all foreign military weapons sales. Twenty-two weapons systems over three years ago checked that have yet to get into Taiwan, into the island. That will provide deterrence to Chairman Xi to think twice about an invasion.” 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace. 

Share

Recent Posts

Trump’s First 100 Days: Gitmo took early role in deportations prior to El Salvador prison deal

America’s most notorious federal prison, a terrorist detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, took center…

14 minutes ago

SCOOP: Republicans roll out $69B funding plan for new CBP agents, building border wall in Trump budget bill

FIRST ON FOX: House Republicans are carving out $68.8 billion for President Donald Trump’s border…

2 hours ago

Taiwan on edge after Pope Francis’s death, closely watching Vatican-China relations

close Video Mourners pay respects to Pope Francis ahead of funeral Mourners from around the…

4 hours ago

Vancouver driver plows into crowd of people attending Filipino festival, killing multiple victims

close Video Multiple dead, others injured after vehicle plows in street festival in Vancouver, Canada…

4 hours ago

Child abduction survivor Elizabeth Smart warns of ‘terrifying territory’ for today’s kids

close Video Abduction survivor Elizabeth Smart offers safety tips to young women Elizabeth Smart, who…

7 hours ago

Ex Fyre Fest designer says fraudster Billy McFarland, Anna Delvey, Luigi Mangione have one thing in common

close Video Former Fyre Festival social media designer raises concerns about second event, social media…

7 hours ago