Despite the wave of incomprehension aroused by his remarks on the “strategic autonomy” of the EU in the Taiwan file, the French president defends “the right to think for yourself” even while remaining close to Washington.
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He assumes his controversial remarks on Taiwan. President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday April 12 during a visit to the Netherlands that being “ally” of the United States did not necessarily mean being “vassal”. “It’s not because we are allies, that we do things together (…) that we no longer have the right to think for ourselves and that we will follow the people who are the toughest in a country which is allied with us”he added in an apparent allusion to the officials of the Republican Party, very offensive on China.
Emmanuel Macron had caused a wave of misunderstanding in the United States and in Europe by calling on the European Union not to be “follower” from Washington or Beijing on the question of Taiwan. Remarks immediately interpreted as a distancing from Washington while the United States has been very committed to Ukraine since the start of the Russian offensive.
“Macron, who is a friend, is with China licking his ass”, reacted former US President Donald Trump. The former American head of state “participates in this escalation which is sought after by some”lamented Emmanuel Macron, conversely welcoming the will of US Democratic President Joe Biden “to avoid any escalation despite the current tensions”.