Clarifying His Remarks on Taiwan, President Macron: This is the One China Policy, We Support the Status Quo

President Macron and Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Bali G20 Summit last year. (Twitter @EmmanuelMacron)

JAKARTA - President Emmanuel Macron confirmed France's position on Taiwan has not changed and supports the current status quo regarding the island, after being asked to clarify his comments which sparked reactions in the United States and Europe.

Earlier, in interviews with news outlet Politico and daily Les Echos, President Macron had warned against being dragged into a crisis over Taiwan driven by "the rhythm of America and China's overreaction."

It drew criticism from some politicians and commentators in Europe and the United States, with former US President Donald Trump accusing him of "kissing" Beijing.

"The position of France and Europe on Taiwan is the same. We support the status quo. This policy is constant and does not change," President Macron said in a press conference during a state visit to the Netherlands, reported by Reuters, April 13.

"This is the One-China policy and the Pacific resolution of this situation. That's what I said in a one-on-one meeting with (President) Xi Jinping, that's what is said everywhere, we don't change," he said.

President Macron made no mention of Taiwan in his public remarks to the press at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing last week, an omission criticized by commentators.

The French leader also said he shares a vision of an "open Indo-Pacific region" with US President Joe Biden, even if they each have their own approach to China.

"I can tell you, that he wants to avoid escalation despite the current tensions," said President Macron.

He added that a French military ship had passed through the Taiwan Strait in recent days despite Chinese military exercises around the island and demonstrated France's strong involvement in the region.

China is known to have never renounced the use of force to bring the democratically ruled island under its control.

"So no, France does not support provocation, does not engage in fantasy politics and considers the status quo, respect, and clarity to be the best allies of European strategic autonomy," he stressed.

He added that Trump's comments were an example of the escalation some were seeking. A French diplomat told reporters earlier that President Macron did not want to be involved in the Republican leadership's strategy of "straining" the US Congress in Taiwan.

The meeting between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California last week - before the China drills - was a "provocation", the diplomat said.