French legislators decline endorsement of 'pro-Beijing' Indo-Pacific document
In the heart of the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, a dispute has arisen in France over a report on Europe-China relations. The 153-page document, authored by Sophia Chikirou of the far-left La France Insoumise party, has been criticized for its strong pro-China stance, particularly regarding Taiwan.
The report asserts that Taiwan is a province of China, a claim that echoes Beijing's narrative and is seen as misrepresenting UN Resolution 2758. This position directly conflicts with the official stance of the French government, sparking sharp criticism from other French parliamentarians, notably the National Assembly's Taiwan Friendship Group. The group, led by lawmaker Marie-Noelle Battistel, issued a strong rebuttal, condemning the report as propaganda.
The adoption of the report by a small committee without broad debate has also contributed to controversy. Its content has attracted outrage both politically and academically for undermining France's official approach to China and Taiwan, diverging markedly from the government's nuanced position in the Indo-Pacific context.
The Taiwan Friendship Group's statement clarified that UN Resolution 2758 only recognized the People's Republic of China as the "sole legitimate representative of China to the United Nations," but did not determine Taiwan's legal status. The group also emphasized the importance of maintaining stability and freedom of navigation through the Taiwan Strait as a strategic priority of the international community.
Moreover, the statement highlighted concerns over China's escalating military activities. China is reportedly planning to bolster its strategy and impose more military and psychological pressure on Taiwan and its people. The country is also increasing its military exercises, frequently intruding into Taiwan's air defense identification zone and conducting large-scale drills surrounding Taiwan.
In response to the report's recommendation to abandon the European Indo-Pacific strategy and pursue a regional strategy that includes China, the Taiwan Friendship Group urged the French government to continue conducting naval transits through the Taiwan Strait, like its allies the US and the UK, to exercise the right of innocent passage and maintain the "status quo."
This dispute highlights a broader debate within France about how to approach China and Taiwan amid growing geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. The French National Assembly's Taiwan Friendship Group's statement also expressed regret over the report's distortion of UN Resolution 2758, without providing any new information about the backlash from politicians and academics due to the report's content being markedly at odds with the views of the French government.
[1] French National Assembly's Taiwan Friendship Group issues statement rejecting report on Europe-China relations. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/spip.php?article36000 [2] French legislator's report on China-Europe relations sparks controversy. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20220502-french-legislator-sophia-chikirou-report-on-china-europe-relations-sparks-controversy [3] France's Taiwan Friendship Group slams report on Europe-China relations. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2022/05/03/2003708394 [4] French report on Europe-China relations sparks controversy. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/french-report-europe-china-relations-sparks-controversy-over-taiwan-claims-2022-05-02/ [5] French report on Europe-China relations sparks controversy. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20220502-french-report-on-europe-china-relations-sparks-controversy-over-taiwan-claims
- The French National Assembly's Taiwan Friendship Group, noting concerns over China's military activities and the escalating war-and-conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region, urged the French government to maintain a nuanced policy-and-legislative approach towards China and Taiwan, including continued naval transits through the Taiwan Strait, akin to its allies the US and UK, to uphold the principle of freedom of navigation.
- Amidst the controversy surrounding the report on Europe-China relations, general-news outlets have covered the stark divide between the French government's position and the report's pro-China stance, particularly on Taiwan's legal status, highlighting the significance of the dispute within the broader context of politics, policy-and-legislation, and international relations.
