Politico: Macron warns China not to let North Korea get involved in the Ukraine war, otherwise NATO will enter Asia.

French President Emmanuel Macron delivered an implicit warning to China during a speech in Singapore, stating that if Beijing does not prevent North Korea from participating in Russia's war against Ukraine, NATO may strengthen its presence in Asia.

⠀

"The presence of North Korea in Ukraine is a serious issue for all of us. If China does not want to see NATO appear in Southeast Asia, it should not allow North Korea to intervene in European affairs," Macron said on Friday at the Defense Summit held in Singapore.

⠀

France has traditionally opposed NATO's expansion into Asia and led the movement to block NATO from opening an office in Japan in 2023.

⠀

"I publicly opposed NATO's involvement in Asian affairs at that time because I don't believe we need to get entangled in others' strategic competition."

But Macron declared in Singapore that Paris might reconsider its stance.

⠀

The French president identified that North Korean troops are providing support to the Kremlin within the framework of the Russo-North Korean bilateral military agreement, with Moscow using North Korean troops in the Battle of Kursk region.

⠀

Macron's speech was part of his Asian tour, which began with personal scandals, including visits to Vietnam and Indonesia, and signing defense agreements.

⠀

At the end of his visit to Singapore, Macron delivered a keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue conference organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Attendees included U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and EU Foreign Affairs Minister Kaja Kalas.

⠀

The French leader also warned of the risks of nuclear proliferation and the threat of the collapse of the world order established after World War II.

⠀

Macron reiterated France's traditional stance, calling on Asian countries to free themselves from dependence on the United States and China:

France adheres to the principles of strategic autonomy and sovereignty. We advocate this approach for both Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833588060055561/

Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's views.