Macron: Asks China to choose a side in the war in Ukraine

In a disguised but clear way, French President Emmanuel Macron warned China with NATO involvement in Southeast Asia. The French president asked Beijing to intervene and prevent North Korea from engaging in Russia’s war in Ukraine.

From Singapore, his tour of Asia, Emmanuel Macron said: « North Korea’s involvement in Ukraine is a big question for all of us. If China does not want NATO to get involved in Southeast Asia, it should prevent it from getting involved in European territory. « 

‘You have to choose side’

The speech took place at a meeting on the defense. The French president is in the area, as Paris and Brussels seek to strengthen trade ties with the countries of the region to offset the consequences of US duties and open to other markets.

Danger US-China conflict

Emmanuel Macron said that the conflict between the US and China, at a commercial and political level, is the greatest danger that people are facing today and how EU is facing. and France place a lot of emphasis on building new alliances in the Indo-Pacific area.

France has for years argued that NATO should not expand its range in Asia. He had also led a campaign to avoid opening an Alliance’s Association’s Office in Japan in 2023. But Paris seems to review his attitude.

« I had opposed the NATO role in Asia, because I do not believe that it is legitimate to participate in someone else’s strategic rivalry, » said Emmanuel Macron. But he added: « I will be clear, France is a friend and ally of the United States, and he is a friend, and we work – even if we sometimes disagree and compete – with China. »

And he added to Beijing: « You have to choose a side. If we get involved, we will kill the world order and methodically destroy all the institutions we created after World War II to maintain peace. But also to have cooperation in health, climate, human rights and so on.  » Asia and Europe have a common interest in preventing the dismantling of the world order, he added.

If we leave Russia …

The French president also warned of risks to Asia if Russia is allowed to control part of Ukrainian territory without resistance. He talked about a bad precedent, bringing to the discussion Taiwan and Chinese claims there.

« If we take into account that Russia could be allowed to understand part of Ukraine’s territory, without any restrictions, without any reaction of the world order … What could happen to Taiwan? » he said.

He called on the Asian nations to be « independent » both from the US and China.

China considers its own Taiwan territory. In recent years it has intensified military and political pressure to reintegrate it in its territories. Among its actions is the increase in the intensity of war exercises and arguing that Taiwan is one of its provinces and has no right to be called the state.

During his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue Dialogue Summit by the International Institute of Strategic Studies, Emmanuel Macron also warned of the risk of nuclear weapons spreading and the possible collapse of the world order that was established after World War II. He called on the Asian nations to be « independent » both from the US and China.

« France is committed to strategic autonomy, freedom of sovereignty. We are defending this approach to Europe and the region of the Indo-Pacific, « he said.