BEIJING—Emmanuel Macron’s unexpected suggestion that Europe not “follow” US policy on Taiwan is being hailed as a “brilliant decision” this week in China, where state news outlets and social media users are lauding his independence.
The French president sowed confusion across the international community—and left Western allies bristling—after calling for “strategic autonomy” on Taiwan following last week’s trip to China, where he met with President Xi Jinping.
But in Amsterdam, protesters noisily disrupted Macron during a speech about Europe’s future Tuesday as his domestic troubles intruded on his state visit to the Netherlands.
“Where is French democracy?” shouted the banner-waving demonstrators as Macron, who has faced violent protests at home over pensions reforms, addressed a largely student audience at a theatre in The Hague.
The 45-year-old Macron enjoyed a rockstar reception during his three-day visit to China, including being mobbed by selfie-chasing students in the southern city of Guangzhou, and local media has covered his subsequent comments widely, focusing on the phrase “strategic autonomy”.
An opinion piece published Monday by the Chinese Communist Party-run Global Times said the comments were “clearly the result of Macron’s long-term observation and reflection” and represented a path that was “relatively objective, rational and in line with Europe’s own interests”.
“Some people want to construct a false Europe in public opinion, masking true European voices and interests,” the article added.
Chen Weihua, Brussels bureau chief for state-run China Daily, wrote on Twitter that “Macron’s words about EU strategic autonomy and resisting a new Cold War and decoupling will also prove to be a brilliant decision”.
Macron is confronting the biggest challenge of his second term after pushing through his flagship pension overhaul, which includes raising the retirement age from 62 to 64.
The Dutch demonstrators had stood in an upper tier of the theatre and shouted “You have millions of protesters in the streets” while holding up a banner that read “President of Violence and Hypocrisy”.
After security guards removed them, Macron said people who try to undermine laws passed by elected governments “put democracy at risk”, citing the 2021 US Capitol riots and a 2023 attack on the Brazilian Congress.
- ‘Perilous times’ –
The pomp and ceremony of the visit later continued regardless, with King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands hailing the 45-year-old French president at a state dinner in Amsterdam.“Reform is not simple,” the monarch said as he toasted his guest after a meal of asparagus soup with grey shrimp, followed by beef tournedos in a red wine sauce and a dessert made of traditional Dutch sweets.
“For us, for Europe and the whole world, it is vital that France is strong, prosperous and confident.”
Macron’s speech earlier made no mention of Taiwan, sticking instead to themes of Europe’s need to look after its own interests.
Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory to one day be taken back, has long sought to break Western resolve on the thorny issue.
And Macron’s recent words on distancing Europe from Washington on the subject of Taiwan suggest China’s efforts might be having some success.
“Daring to talk openly about autonomy,” commented a user of social media site Weibo under a news article on Macron, “Europe has progressed.”
‘Brilliant decision’
While the reputations of most Western leaders in China have suffered in recent years, Macron enjoys a largely favourable public image — an attitude made evident by the hordes of students in Guangzhou.
His willingness in the recent interview to differentiate French foreign policy from that of the United States on the issue of Taiwan helped bolster that fan base.
One Weibo user commented: “Macron’s ideas are very good. Europe’s arrogance and inaction for many years have led to extreme strategic passivity, being pulled along by the US.”
But such triumphant Chinese perspectives have also been tempered by more sober voices contending that geopolitical realities necessitate that France and Europe remain largely aligned with the US.
Hu Xijin, a prominent political commentator and former editor-in-chief of the Global Times, wrote Monday on Weibo that — despite Macron’s rosy comments — it was “unrealistic” for China to think France would side with them in future confrontations with the US.
Europe and the US “have shared values and are bound together by NATO,” wrote Hu.
“But we can firmly believe that as long as China treats European countries reasonably and fairly while the US forces them to oppose China, conflicts between their strategic interests will rise to the surface.”
Other online commentators were more cynical about the reasoning behind Macron’s comments.
“What’s the use?” wrote on Weibo user. “He’ll say one thing when he comes here to earn economic benefits, then do another when he gets the money. It’s been like this for decades.”
