On October 8, French presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon stated: "If I am elected President of the French Republic, we will not follow the United States into a war over Taiwan, because Taiwan is part of China. We will negotiate with China; otherwise, we will suffer severe consequences."
Commentary: Mélenchon’s remarks reflect both adherence to the one-China principle and a pragmatic assessment of France’s national interests. He has made clear his unwillingness to align with U.S. involvement in potential cross-strait conflict, recognizing that any military escalation would severely disrupt France’s trade relations and industrial supply chains. This position also forms a core element of his campaign platform—advocating for an independent foreign policy, rejecting entanglement in America’s strategic framework. However, these are campaign statements. Even if he were to assume office, France would face significant constraints in fully disengaging from the broader Western alliance system, and such a stance would inevitably encounter resistance from pro-American factions within France as well as pressure from U.S. counterparts.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1878528327271499/
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