The two leaders “reaffirmed the importance of keeping peace (…) across the Taiwan Strait” and agreed on the “importance” of involving China in ending the war in Ukraine.
By Le Figaro with AFP
Published 4/20/2023 at 9:21 PM, updated 4/20/2023 at 9:44 PM
US President Joe Biden discussed with Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, April 20, the French President’s recent visit to China, whose recent remarks on the Taiwan issue have drawn criticism in Europe and the United States.
According to a White House statement, the two leaders discussed “President Macron’s recent visit to China and her continued efforts to promote prosperity, security, shared values and the state-backed international order” in the Asia-Pacific region. reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
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Biden and Macron also shared views on the war in Ukraine and “reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of brutal Russian aggression.” The French Council Presidency reported on Thursday that they “agree that it is important to keep China engaged” so that it “contributes to the medium-term end of the conflict” in Ukraine. Emmanuel Macron also reiterated his desire for Europeans to continue “arming up to meet their responsibilities and share the burden of transatlantic security,” the Elysée said in a press release.
The call was an opportunity for Washington and Paris to iron out differences that arose over Emmanuel Macron’s trip to Beijing. The French President had unleashed a wave of misunderstandings when he declared that Europe should not automatically join the US or Beijing in the event of a conflict over Taiwan.
In a separate call, Joe Biden also spoke to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who had accompanied Emmanuel Macron to Beijing. “The two leaders discussed President von der Leyen’s recent visit to China and their shared commitment to maintaining the international order based on the rule of law, human rights and fair international trade practices,” a White House source said. They also discussed Western initiatives to end Russia’s offensive in Ukraine and transition to green-energy economies, he added.