April 11, 2025
French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot attended a regular hearing of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Armed Forces on April 9. In response to a question by Senator Olivier Cadic, Vice President of the committee, Minister Barrot stated that France and the other Group of Seven (G7) members had reached a consensus on the importance of maritime security across the Taiwan Strait and other regions before issuing the G7 foreign ministers’ statement on April 6. He added that France had participated in joint sea and air drills in the Indo-Pacific with countries in the region to reaffirm the high level of importance it attached to freedom of navigation on the high seas, as enshrined in international maritime law. He also noted that France remained opposed to any unilateral attempts to use force or coercion to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung sincerely thanks France for continuing to monitor peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific, as well as reiterating its opposition to unilateral attempts to alter the cross-strait status quo by force or coercion. Maintaining cross-strait peace and stability is a matter of international consensus and common interests. The world is well aware of China’s attempts to steadily increase cross-strait tensions, change the cross-strait status quo, and undermine regional peace and stability. As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan is committed to continuing to work hand in hand with France and other like-minded partners to jointly safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific.