French lawmakers on Friday said that they unequivocally support Taiwan and maintaining the “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait, after meeting with a delegation of Taiwanese legislators in Paris earlier in the day.
The meeting “was a testimony that our support for Taiwan and the people of Taiwan has no room for ambiguity,” said French lawmaker Eric Bothorel, of the ruling Renaissance party.
France has not changed its position of maintaining the cross-strait “status quo,” because it keeps the heart of Taiwan’s democracy beating, he said.
Photo courtesy of Taipei Representative Office in France via CNA
Bothorel’s comments came after French President Emmanuel Macron called on Europe not to follow the US amid tensions between the US and China over Taiwan.
“The worst thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and adapt to the American rhythm or a Chinese overreaction,” Macron said in an interview with Politico, Les Echos and Franceinfo on Sunday last week, after a trip to China.
His statement drew criticism from academics and politicians in the US and Europe, who said it was too accommodating of China, given that Beijing has increased military and economic pressure on Taiwan following a meeting between President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California on Wednesday last week.
Macron’s comments led to some misunderstandings about France’s stance on cross-strait issues, as it continues to unequivocally support the “status quo,” Bothorel said on Friday.
“Should anything happen to Taiwan, everyone will be impacted,” Bothorel said.
The recent transit of a French warship through the Taiwan Strait was aimed at asserting that freedom of navigation in those waters should be maintained, Bothorel said after attending a luncheon for the Taiwanese delegation, which was hosted by French lawmaker Jean-Louis Bourlanges, chairman of the French National Assembly’s Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The delegation, led by Deputy Legislative Speaker Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌), is in Paris at the invitation of the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce, which is holding its board of directors meeting in Paris from Friday to today.
The delegation on Friday visited the French Senate and was hosted by French Senator Christian Cambon, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces. They also met French Senator Alain Richard, chairman of the Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group.
France, and more generally Europe, has an interest in maintaining the cross-strait “status quo,” French Senator Olivier Cadic said, adding that he thinks Taiwan should be given assistance to defend itself, in case of a war.
“If you want peace, prepare for war,” Cadic said. “French lawmakers are in support of providing Taiwan with relevant equipment to defend itself in the event of an attack.”
The trip to Paris by the 16-member Taiwanese delegation of cross-party lawmakers, many of whom are on the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, was scheduled before Macron made the controversial remarks.
Tsai Chi-chang, of the Democratic Progressive Party, said that French lawmakers, across party lines, are supportive of Taiwan.
Taiwan shares the same democratic values as France, and their relationship is the strongest it has been in 20 years, he said.
One of the other delegates, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Johnny Chiang (江啟臣), said that the discussions with the French lawmakers would help facilitate efforts between Taiwan and France to ensure cross-strait peace and security, because maintaining the “status quo” is in everyone’s interests.
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