French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday stood through his arguable feedback on Taiwan, pronouncing that being a US best friend did now no longer suggest being a “vassal”.
Macron, wrapping up a nation go to to the Netherlands throughout which he has additionally confronted protests over pension reforms, stated France nonetheless sponsored the “reputation quo” on Taiwan.
But the French chief seemed to paste through feedback in an interview on the weekend, wherein he stated Europe have to now no longer be a “follower” of both Washington or Beijing or get stuck up in any escalation.
“Being an best friend does now no longer suggest being a vassal… doesn`t suggest that we do not have the proper to assume for ourselves,” Macron instructed a press convention in Amsterdam with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Macron, who visited China closing week, stated French and European coverage on Taiwan “has now no longer changed” no matter the furore over his feedback to Politico and Les Echos wherein he sponsored Europe’s strategic autonomy.
“France is for the reputation quo in Taiwan” and a “non violent decision to the situation,” he added.
‘Honour of the people’
The first nation go to to the Netherlands through a French president in 23 years became full of pomp which includes a ship journey on one in every of Amsterdam’s scenic canals and a dinner withinside the capital’s famed Rijksmuseum.
But the 2-day live to sell ties among the 2 key EU participants has now no longer stopped Macron from going through stress on a chain of each home and overseas issues.
Macron’s weekend interview on Taiwan drew reward as “brilliant” in China — which rejects US guide of what it sees as a breakaway province — however raised eyebrows amongst Western allies.
Former US president Donald Trump stated that “Macron, who is a pal of mine, is over with China, kissing his ass.”
Macron answered that he had “not anything to mention approximately the feedback through former president Trump due to the fact he’s taking element on this escalation”.
Dutch most desirable Rutte stated he agreed with Macron that Europe “ought to be a participant and now no longer a gambling field”, however insisted that Washington remained an “important associate with regards to safety and freedom”.
Rutte in the meantime stated of the protests focused on Macron that “we’re the hosts so that you do not need that”.
Police arrested demonstrators who ran in the direction of the French president out of doors Amsterdam college in an obvious protest in opposition to France growing the pension age from sixty two to 64.
“For the honor of the people and a higher world — even though Macron would not like it, we’re here,” one protester chanted, the usage of the phrases of a French protest song, as he became pinned down through numerous safety officers in Amsterdam.
Around forty human beings protested whilst Macron left the college’s technological know-how faculty, in an occasion to sell the signing of a “% for innovation” among France and the Netherlands.
‘Accept controversy’
The arrests got here an afternoon after protesters heckled Macron throughout a speech on European sovereignty in The Hague on Tuesday.
Macron later stated reforms necessarily triggered protests, mentioning latest rallies through Dutch farmers in opposition to environmental plans.
“We ought to occasionally be given controversy, and we ought to attempt to construct a course for the future,” he instructed an target target market of French human beings dwelling withinside the Netherlands.
Ahead of a pinnacle courtroom docket ruling at the pensions reforms on Friday and sparkling moves on Thursday, Macron instructed the clicking convention he desired to paintings with unions and discover a answer regardless of the decision.
Macron’s go to wrapped up Wednesday with a go to to an exhibition of works through painter Johannes Vermeer at Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum, and a dinner withinside the corridor wherein Rembrandt’s “Night Watch” is on display.
Earlier, Macron’s spouse Brigitte and Dutch Queen Maxima toured the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, wherein the tragic teenage Jewish diarist concealed from the Nazis throughout World War II.