"China expresses disapproval over Emmanuel Macron's Taiwan-Ukraine comparison, claiming sovereignty over the island"
China Rebukes Macron Over remarks Equating Ukraine and Taiwan
On Saturday, following French President Emmanuel Macron's remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue, the Chinese Embassy in Singapore criticized the comparison between the Ukraine and Taiwan issues. Macron, during his speech, suggested that the potential for Chinese aggression towards Taiwan mirrored Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
At the security forum in Singapore, Macron questioned the implications of allowing Russia to annex Ukrainian territory without repercussions, suggesting it might embolden China to act similarly towards Taiwan. He warned that such inaction would undermine the credibility of Western powers and could be perceived as double standards, given ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
Macron emphasized the importance of respecting international law and the prohibition of using force to change borders. He underlined the significance of maintaining stability and peace in the Indo-Pacific, signifying France's commitment to collective action against military aggression.
In response, the Chinese Embassy labeled Macron's comparison as unacceptable, stating that "the Taiwan issue is a strictly internal matter of China." The embassy repeated the One-China principle, asserting Taiwan's inseparability from Chinese territory.
China accused France of applying a double standard, maintaining that Taiwan is not a sovereign state. The recent exchange has increased diplomatic tension between France and China, reflecting broader regional tensions in the Indo-Pacific over security and territorial disputes.
France defends the comparison as a warning against unchecked aggression and an appeal for consistent application of international law. China, on the other hand, vehemently rejects any equivalence, framing Taiwan as a matter of national sovereignty and territorial integrity. This dispute continues to strain France-China relations, highlighting geopolitical tensions over security and territorial disputes in Asia.
Political tensions escalated between France and China as Macron's equating of war-and-conflicts in Ukraine and potential conflicts in Taiwan led to a diplomatic spat. The Chinese Embassy in Singapore denounced this politics, insisting that the Taiwan issue is a matter of China's internal politics general-news, not a subject open to comparison.