French President to Taiwan: We Don't Think You're Vital to Us

French President Emmanuel Macron recently visited the People’s Republic of China and met with President Xi Jinping. President Macron released a video of his trip that some have described as little more than a Chinese propaganda piece. After his trip, Macron stated to Politico Europe that the great risk facing Europe is getting caught up in crises that are not theirs. This is an interesting (and alarming) statement from the president of France and leader of an essential member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Luckily, the United States is the current leading member of NATO and provides the backbone for the organization’s military power and force projection.

Speaking specifically about Taiwan, President Macron stated that the question Europeans need to ponder is whether or not it is in their interest to accelerate a crisisthere.. This ignores important facts.  The western world is extremely dependent on the advanced semiconductors manufactured in Taiwan. If China were to take control of these manufacturing facilities, it would provide it  with a stranglehold on the entire chip manufacturing market. This would give it  immense leverage over the rest of the world and enable it to push its sinister agenda far more easily and more quickly than it is at the moment.

France should think twice about attempting to commandeer Nato’s strategic initiatives.  France’s military is significantly smaller than that of the United States, or even Great Britain. Additionally, without the US backing of NATO, all of Europe would potentially be at risk of takeover by a nuclear power such as the Russian Federation. Without the US military forces stationed in Europe, the risk of such an invasion and takeover is significantly higher. American forces being stationed in Europe is what prevented further expansion of the Iron Curtain.

Furhermore, if President Macron is serious about the comments he has made (and if they are ever echoed by other European nations) then the United States should consider withdrawing its military forces from Europe and leaving NATO. Most members of NATO are already not paying the 2% of GDP on defense spending that they commited to. If France and the rest of Europe do not want to stand by the US and Taiwan against the impending and current threat posed by the People’s Republic of China, then they can stand alone against it when its enemies reach their shores. Thus far, however, there has been significant pushback by other European nations against the statements made by Macron, which seems to indicate that his opinion and sentiment are not widely held. How true this is remains to be seen.

--John Grady writes and opines on foreign policy and politics.