JAKARTA - French President Emmanuel Macron said in comments published on Sunday, Europe was not interested in accelerating the crisis over Taiwan and should pursue a strategy independent of Washington and Beijing.
President Macron has just returned from a three-day state visit to China, where he received a warm welcome from President Xi Jinping.
Last weekend, China began drills around Taiwan, in a show of anger over President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday.
China views democratically-ruled Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. The Taiwanese government strongly objects to China's claims.
President Macron said Europe should not precipitate conflict but take time to establish its position as a third pole between China and the United States, in comments to French newspapers Les Echos and Politico made during his visit to China.
"The worst thing is to think that we Europeans should become followers of this topic and adapt to the rhythm of America or the overreaction of China," Politico quoted him as saying, as reported by Reuters April 10.
Europe must better fund its defense industry, develop nuclear and renewable energy, and reduce dependence on the US dollar to limit its dependence on the United States, the two media outlets quoted him as saying.
The joint interview was conducted on a flight on Friday between Beijing and Guangzhou City.
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On Friday, an adviser to President Macron told reporters in Guangzhou, President Xi and President Macron had "dense and frank" discussions on the Taiwan issue during their meeting.
"The president's feeling is, we have to be careful not to have an accident or escalation of tensions (which could lead to) China carrying out an attack," the Elysee adviser said.
It is understood President Macron traveled to China with a business delegation of 50 people including Airbus and nuclear energy producer EDF, who signed deals during the visit. On that occasion, also attended the Head of the European Union Ursula von der Leyen.
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