French President Macron advocates for strengthening alliances between Asia and Europe to counter 'sphere of pressure' or 'manipulation'.
France Urges United Front Against Territorial Revisionism at Shangri-La Conference
Singapore – French President Emmanuel Macron has called upon the international community to unite in resisting powers that seek to seize territory and resources, addressing the annual Shangri-La Dialogue conference. This year's event, Asia's biggest defense and security conference, comes amid mounting tension between global powers, notably over China’s increasing assertiveness in Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Addressing a gathering of defense chiefs and officials from around the world, Macron identified "revisionist" countries, asserting that they aim to establish "spheres of coercion" under the guise of spheres of influence. He urged the participants to recognise and respond decisively to such threats against the global order.
"Countries that want to control areas from the fringes of Europe to the archipelagos in the South China Sea... that want to appropriate resources, whether fishing or mineral and crowd out others for their benefit," Macron said, noticeably alluding to China's territorial disputes.
As the US-China tension escalates, the dialogue has become a barometer of the states' relationship. US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, will address the conference on Saturday, following President Donald Trump's latest tariff skirmish with Beijing, which has unsettled global financial markets. However, China has chosen a senior officer from its People's Liberation Army's National Defence University to represent the country at the meeting, instead of its defense minister, marking a departure from recent years when personal meetings between US counterparts were facilitated.
In the final leg of a tour of Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore, Macron sought to position France as a reliable alternative for the region, sandwiched between the tariff threats of the United States and China's territorial ambitions in the South China Sea. Asian nations have been finding themselves in an uncomfortable position due to the ongoing trade disputes and military posturing between Washington and Beijing.
Macron called for the creation of a new alliance between Europe and Asia, based on shared norms and principles. Stressing the responsibility of leaders to safeguard their countries from collateral damages caused by tensions between the superpowers, Macron emphasized the importance of collective action in upholding the rules-based international order.
Regarding North Korea's involvement in Ukraine, Macron warned China that the expanded role of NATO in Southeast Asia or Asia could ensue if China fails to prevent North Korea from aiding Russia's war effort. He also cautioned Asian leaders not to regard the crisis in Ukraine as remote or irrelevant to their security, pointing out the potential ramifications for Taiwan and the Philippines.
Beyond the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, the recent bout of clashes between India and Pakistan will cast a long shadow over the conference, extending until Sunday.
© 2025 AFP
- Emmanuel Macron, while addressing the Shangri-La Dialogue conference, urged the international community to resist territorial revisionism, claiming that some countries seek to establish spheres of coercion.
- In his tour of Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore, Macron aimed to position France as a reliable alternative for the region, caught between the tariff threats of the United States and China's territorial ambitions in the South China Sea.
- Macron also warned China that the expanded role of NATO in Southeast Asia could ensue if China fails to prevent North Korea from aiding Russia's war effort in Ukraine.
- Beyond the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, the recent bout of clashes between India and Pakistan will cast a long shadow over the Shangri-La Dialogue conference, extending until Sunday.
- As the US-China tension escalates, Macron called for the creation of a new alliance between Europe and Asia, based on shared norms and principles, to safeguard the rules-based international order.
