China Slams Macron Against Linking Ukraine War to Taiwan Tensions

China has strongly criticized recent remarks linking the defense of Ukraine to the protection of Taiwan, calling such comparisons a “double standard” and “unacceptable.”

The comments, published Saturday in a statement by the Chinese Embassy in Singapore, appear to be a direct — though unnamed — rebuttal to French President Emmanuel Macron’s speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue the previous evening.

Macron, speaking at Asia’s premier defense summit in Singapore, drew a sharp parallel between the global response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the international community’s responsibility to deter a potential Chinese military move on Taiwan.

“If Russia is allowed to take any part of Ukraine without consequence, then what could happen in Taiwan?” Macron asked during his address.

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China’s embassy responded via Facebook, stating that “the two are different in nature and not comparable at all.” It emphasized that Taiwan is an internal matter and warned against what it sees as hypocrisy in applying “double standards” to justify international intervention. The post, while not naming Macron directly, included an image of him speaking at the conference.

Beijing has long maintained that Taiwan, a self-governed democratic island, is a part of its sovereign territory. Over recent years, China has increased military drills and political pressure on Taiwan, asserting its claim to reunification — by force if necessary.

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Taiwan, however, rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, with its government insisting that only its people have the right to determine their future.

The Shangri-La Dialogue, which gathers defense ministers, military officials, and analysts from around the world, has been a key forum for discussing Indo-Pacific security. This year, however, China sent a relatively low-level delegation of military academics, marking a shift from its usual presence of senior officials.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also addressed the conference, warning that China posed an “imminent threat” to regional stability. He stressed that any attempt by Beijing to forcibly take Taiwan would have “devastating consequences” not only for the Indo-Pacific but for global peace and security.

Diplomats attending the event noted that Macron’s comments echoed broader concerns shared by many in attendance. “The message from many backing Ukraine is that the line must be held if a message is to be sent to China,” one East Asian envoy remarked.

As tensions continue to simmer, the debate over the parallels between Ukraine and Taiwan is becoming a flashpoint in global diplomacy — one that China is making clear it will firmly oppose.