The French president, Emmanuel Macron
, "has often said that France is not equidistant between the United States and China. The United States is our allies, we share common values";
Elysee sources interviewed by ANSA in Paris say so.
"China is at the same time a 'partner, a competitor and a systemic rival'", the sources continue, quoting the expression contained in the 2019 EU strategy. With Beijing, they continue in Paris, "we wish to build a common agenda to reduce tensions and deal with major global and international issues".
"Europeans - continue the Elysee sources, illustrating Macron's thought - have their own interests and promote them in total transparency and loyalty with their international allies and partners. A sovereign Europe is necessary for the balance of the world, whether it is trade, promotion of our values, respect for the law, development and maintenance of international peace and security. Europe must be able to make its independent voice heard".
Paris also insists on the need to "create new opportunities for cooperation to avoid clashes between blocs and promote effective multilateralism, within a common framework for all those who want to act. This is the best way to involve China and avoid the fragmentation of the world ".
And again: "Maintain an open Indo-Pacific, based on respect for international rules in the face of global challenges: Macron and Biden agree on this goal. They spoke about it before the French president's mission to Beijing".
For the Elysée, "protecting the stability of the international order" also means "preventing China's involvement in the war in Ukraine and associating it with the negotiating efforts for a lasting solution".
This is also equivalent to avoiding "the increase in risks in the Taiwan Strait. Macron spoke to Biden about this too and clearly told President Xi Jinping that the question of Taiwan must be treated through dialogue", they conclude at the Elysée.
According to the French Minister of Economy and number two in the government Bruno Le Maire, the president, Emmanuel Macron, is "perfectly right in claiming European independence and sovereignty as he has continued to do since 2017".
"We are obviously allies of the United States. We share the same values, we have many economic interests in common. But it is not because we are allies of the United States that we have to be against China."