French President Emmanuel Macron drew a parallel between Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and a potential threat to Taiwan during his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore on Friday. He said unchecked actions by Russia could set a dangerous precedent in Asia.
“If Russian President Vladimir Putin could take Ukrainian territory without any restrictions, without any constraints … what could happen in Taiwan? What will you do the day something happens in the Philippines?” Macron asked during the address.
China Labels Macron’s Remarks ‘Unacceptable’
China swiftly responded to Macron’s statements through its embassy in Singapore. In a Facebook post on Saturday, the embassy stated, “Comparing the Taiwan question with the Ukraine issue is unacceptable.”
It further added, “The two are different in nature, and not comparable at all,” accusing Macron of adopting a “double standard.”
China’s Growing Presence Central to Forum Discussions
Macron’s comments came a day after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a stark warning at the same summit. He described China’s threat in Asia as potentially “imminent.”
“There’s no reason to sugarcoat it. The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent,” Hegseth said. He also warned that any military aggression by China against Taiwan “would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world.”
Macron Also Addresses Gaza Crisis and Western Credibility
In his speech, Macron also voiced concern over Europe’s image due to its stance on Israel and Gaza. He warned that if the West continued to appear lenient toward Israel amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, it could erode its credibility globally.
“If we abandon Gaza, if we consider there is a free pass for Israel, even if we do condemn the terrorist attacks, we kill our credibility in the rest of the world,” Macron cautioned.
