Macron is looking for a new EU -Asia alliance – DW – 30/05/2025

French president Emmanuel Macron opened the Shangri-La dialogue, an annual defense and security conference held SingaporeWith an opening speech on Friday which was carried away by calls to European and Asian countries to form an alliance against what he described as “coercion spheres” sought by major powers – a veiled reference to China And Russia.

Macron’s comments came while Moscow only noses to the west by ignoring the international outcry and calls for the end of his Invasion of UkraineAnd concerns are developing that China can make its property Threat to take control of Taiwan as he continues to assert his strength in the Southern China Sea.

“We have a challenge from revisionist countries that want to impose … under the name of influence spheres … coercion spheres,” said Macron.

“The countries that want to control the areas of the margins of Europe in the archipelagos of the Southern China Sea … which want to appropriate resources, be it fishing or minerals, and flourish with others for their advantage,” he continued.

Macron’s speech came In the heels of a tour of Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore in which the French politician sought to present his country as a reliable defense and a trading partner for the countries taken between the United States and China.

Washington and Beijing have both exasperated the regional leaders who must navigate WE President Donald Trump’s incessant price threats and Chinese president Xi Jinpingcarrot and stick approach to cooperation.

Growing tension between the two only made life more difficult in the countries of the regionMacron encouraging Macron to urge countries to “build a new positive alliance between Europe and Asia, depending on our common standards, on our common principles”.

“Our common responsibility is to ensure that others are not victims of guarantee of imbalances linked to choices made by superpowers,” said Macron.

The French president also used his speech to warn against complacency among those present with regard to support for Ukraine, which many might think that the region is less important due to the fact that this may seem a distant problem.

“If we consider that Russia could be authorized to take part of the territory of Ukraine without any restriction, without any constraint, without any reaction of the world order,” he said, adding: “How would you explain what could happen in Taiwan? What would you do the day when something happens in the Philippines?”

Although regional democracies such as Australia, Japan and South Korea actively argued that Ukraine, China and North Korea helped maintain the Moscow war with financial and material support – Pyongyang even sending troops on the front line.

The EU is looking for solid and friendly and friendly commercial and defense partnerships in Asia

France Recently underlined the need to “preserve an international order based on rules” in the face of “increased power and territorial claims of China” and of Beijing with the United States in its latest Indo-Pacific strategy document.

Although Ue Countries have tended to focus on their business links with the nations of the region, they also participated in numerous freedoms of navigation in the face of a growing military affirmation of China.

After meeting the Prime Minister of Singapore, Martin Wong on Friday, Macron said: “We are neither China nor the United States, we do not want to depend on one or the other.”

“We want to cooperate with both as far as possible, and we can cooperate for growth, prosperity and stability for our people and the world order, and I think it is exactly the same vision of many countries and many people in this region,” he added. “”

Wong accepted, saying: “We want to adopt a full commitment with all the parties and adopt winning-win arrangements rather than a zero sum competition.”

China breaks tradition, sends low level representatives to the conference

The Shangri-La dialogue, organized by the International Institute for Security Studies (IISS) and takes place until Sunday, took place for the first time in 2002 and facilitates high-level meetings between the defense ministers around the world.

It has also long been considered a barometer for American-Chinese relations. In addition, he offered a rare opportunity for us and the Chinese defense ministers to meet face to face.

This year, however, Beijing did not send his Minister of Defense, but rather a senior official of the People Liberation Army for the defense of the Liberation Army.

Concerns concerning the American commitment to Indo-Pacific

The managers of the region have also been uncomfortable concerning American commitments since Donald Trump returned to the office in January.

Not only Trump has turned the world’s stock markets on their heads as he continued his trade war with Beijing, but he also punished allies in the region with massive rates. In addition, he is concerned about Washington’s commitment to defend Taiwan.

Before leaving for Singapore, the American defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, told journalists: “We are not asking any conflict with anyone, including the Communist Chinese. We will remain strong for our interests. And this is a large part of what this trip is.”

The United States considers China’s failure to send high-level representatives as a potential opening, with Hegseth saying: “We cannot explain whether China is committed or not. All we know is that we are here. And we will be here.”

The trip is the second of Hegseth in the region since its appointment. In March, he went to the Philippines and Japan.

It is not clear if his visits will be sufficient to mitigate the regional concerns concerning Trump’s desire to stand by their side in front of the shot of Chinese saber. The American leader has so far projected a direct transactional approach – if not to say coercive – relations, as well as an attitude opposed to foreign engagement despite the continuation of Washington of a “free and open Indo -Pacific”.

The United States, China and Ukraine are not the only security problems

Although Macron’s Friday’s speech highlighted the importance of European and Asian commitments in cooperation and unity with regard to trade, defense and Ukraine, it is not the only problems that will be resolved at the three -day event.

Among the programs of other pressing questions that the conference will be addressed appear the civil war continues in Myanmar (in progress since May 2021) and the triggering of violence between Thailand and Cambodia This week in a border skirmish.

However, the most serious of all is the push of tensions between India And Pakistan In Cashmere.

Although a truce has been declared in the current conflict between the nuclear weaponsDozens of people have been killed by gunshots, missile strikes and drone attacks while the two nations are committed to their most serious military confrontation for decades.

Neither India nor Pakistan sent defense ministers to Singapore, opting rather to send higher military delegations. No meeting should take place between the two.

Published by: ZAC Crellin