France’s foreign minister on Sunday condemned attempts to undermine the “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait, saying that Paris is “very keen to act to prevent” conflict.
In a written interview with Nikkei Asia, French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian did not mention China by name, but said that any action that might lead to an escalation is “a concern we share with our European partners.”
Stability in the Taiwan Strait is key to the stability of the region, he said, mentioning French military bases in the Pacific, including in New Caledonia.
Photo: Reuters
Le Drian made the comments ahead of today’s first European Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, which is to be hosted by Paris.
More than 50 foreign ministers from the EU and the Indo-Pacific region are expected to attend virtually to discuss topics ranging from “health and climate issues to security challenges, as well as matters of connectivity and digital technology,” Le Drian told the Japanese newspaper.
France has been increasing its presence in the region.
In February last year, it sent a nuclear attack submarine on a freedom-of-navigation patrol to the South China Sea.
This was followed in May by its first-ever joint military exercise in Japan with US and Japanese forces, as well as navigation of the Taiwan Strait by a navy signals intelligence vessel in October.
The EU is also considering enhancing economic ties with Taiwan through a free-trade or investment agreement.
Asked about this possibility, Le Drian said that France would “support any initiative likely to take forward trade relations with Taiwan.”
The EU in 2015 announced it was researching the possibility of signing a trade deal with Taiwan, but negotiations have yet to begin.
However, a resolution passed by the European Parliament in October last year called for strengthening the EU-Taiwan relationship, including through signing a trade agreement.
As France holds the presidency of the Council of the EU through June, there is speculation that it might hold implications for trade discussions with Taiwan.
As for the potential of participating in the AUKUS security alliance between the US, the UK and Australia, Le Drian said that the circumstances under which the alliance was formed “were not commensurate with the dialogue and coordination one might expect on such issues.”
The alliance drew protests from Paris in September last year, when Australia canceled its deal to buy French submarines in favor of joining AUKUS.
However, Le Drian added that dialogue with Washington resumed shortly afterward, with the two united “by genuinely similar views” on security needs in the Indo-Pacific region.
He also touted security cooperation with Japan, which is similarly founded on a shared belief in freedom of navigation.
Separately, the European External Action Service yesterday said that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell is to cochair today’s Indo-Pacific forum along with Le Drian.
For the first time, it is to bring together EU partners from East Africa, the Persian Gulf, South Africa, the Pacific and Indian oceans, and across Asia, the service said.
France said the Indo-Pacific nations expected to attend include Japan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.
Neither China nor the US is expected to attend.
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION: The UK would continue to reinforce ties with Taiwan ‘in a wide range of areas’ as a part of a ‘strong unofficial relationship,’ a paper said The UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. British Member of Parliament Desmond Swayne said that the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey had passed through the Taiwan Strait “in pursuit of vital international freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” Swayne asked Lammy whether he agreed that it was “proper and lawful” to do so, and if the UK would continue to carry out similar operations. Lammy replied “yes” to both questions. The
‘OF COURSE A COUNTRY’: The president outlined that Taiwan has all the necessary features of a nation, including citizens, land, government and sovereignty President William Lai (賴清德) discussed the meaning of “nation” during a speech in New Taipei City last night, emphasizing that Taiwan is a country as he condemned China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758. The speech was the first in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. It is the responsibility of Taiwanese citizens to stand united to defend their national sovereignty, democracy, liberty, way of life and the future of the next generation, Lai said. This is the most important legacy the people of this era could pass on to future generations, he said. Lai went on to discuss
AMENDMENT: Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of high-temperature days, affecting economic productivity and public health, experts said The Central Weather Administration (CWA) is considering amending the Meteorological Act (氣象法) to classify “high temperatures” as “hazardous weather,” providing a legal basis for work or school closures due to extreme heat. CWA Administrator Lu Kuo-chen (呂國臣) yesterday said the agency plans to submit the proposed amendments to the Executive Yuan for review in the fourth quarter this year. The CWA has been monitoring high-temperature trends for an extended period, and the agency contributes scientific data to the recently established High Temperature Response Alliance led by the Ministry of Environment, Lu said. The data include temperature, humidity, radiation intensity and ambient wind,
SECOND SPEECH: All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist the CCP, despite their differences, the president said President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday discussed how pro-Taiwan and pro-Republic of China (ROC) groups can agree to maintain solidarity on the issue of protecting Taiwan and resisting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The talk, delivered last night at Taoyuan’s Hakka Youth Association, was the second in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. Citing Taiwanese democracy pioneer Chiang Wei-shui’s (蔣渭水) slogan that solidarity brings strength, Lai said it was a call for political parties to find consensus amid disagreements on behalf of bettering the nation. All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist