French Foreign Minister Jean Barot made his first public statement on the Taiwan issue in parliament since taking office on April 9. He emphasized that while France follows a One China policy, it attaches great importance to Taiwan’s freedom of navigation in the region and the stability of the Taiwan Strait. He reiterated France’s opposition to any unilateral changes to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and stated that this position will not change. Barot also emphasized the close official exchanges between France and Taiwan.
Shortly before this, on April 6, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) had issued a joint statement expressing concern over large-scale military exercises conducted by China near Taiwan. The ministers pointed out that these increasingly frequent and destabilizing actions escalate tensions across the strait, posing risks to global security and prosperity.
The statement underlined that maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is in the interest of G7 members and the international community, opposing any unilateral actions that disrupt this peace and stability, including the threat or use of force.
Foreign Minister Barot also mentioned that France recently conducted joint naval and air exercises in the Indo-Pacific region with neighboring countries, demonstrating France’s high regard for the “freedom of navigation” under international maritime law.
He emphasized that during his recent visits to Singapore and Indonesia, France signed financing agreements with the European Commission to assist the eight countries in the Indo-Pacific region in maintaining the security of their 12 ports, showcasing France’s sincere and concrete commitment to maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.