A group of French lawmakers Friday reaffirmed their country's support for the security of the Taiwan Strait in a meeting with the island's leader Tsai Ing-wen, after French President Emmanuel Macron made comments about the territory that stirred criticism.
Senate Vice President Alain Richard, who leads the five-member delegation, said French lawmakers are "very concerned" about Taiwan's safety and that they will encourage the French government to pay more attention to the security of the Taiwan Strait.
He said the recent passage of a French warship through the waterway separating Taiwan and mainland China is "the best proof" of France paying attention to the region.
Macron drew backlash from Western nations for calling on Europeans not to be "followers" of either the United States or China, and warned about the continent being drawn into a crisis over Taiwan driven by what he called "the American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction" in an interview with Les Echos and Politico earlier this month.
Communist-led Beijing regards self-ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province to be united with the mainland, by force if necessary.
Tsai said Taiwan-France relations have become closer over the years, with two French parliamentary delegations visiting the island in recent weeks.
French lawmaker Eric Bothorel, chair of a France-Taiwan parliamentary friendship group, led a four-member delegation from the French National Assembly to Taiwan last week.
