• Macron warns the West against double standards in addressing Ukraine and Taiwan issues.
• He emphasizes the importance of a stable international order amid rising tensions.
• China criticizes Macron's assertion that parallels exist between Ukraine and Taiwan.
• U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth acknowledges the potential threat China poses to Taiwan.
• Macron calls for strategic autonomy for nations in the Asia-Pacific region.

At the Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore, French President Emmanuel Macron cautioned the United States and European nations against neglecting the situation in Ukraine while focusing on potential threats from China regarding Taiwan. He argued that a failure to support Ukraine could undermine global credibility in deterring future aggressions, particularly with regard to Taiwan-related tensions. "If Russia could take a part of the territory of Ukraine without any restriction... what could happen in Taiwan?" Macron posed to a gathering that included US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, emphasizing that the stakes go beyond just European interests, according to latimes and bbc.

Macron's warning prompted a strong rebuke from China, which insisted that the Ukraine and Taiwan matters are fundamentally different. A statement from the Chinese embassy in Singapore asserted that "the Taiwan question is entirely China's internal affair," and condemned any comparisons made by Macron. They emphasized that equating the two issues was unacceptable, dismissing his claims as a "double standard," according to indiatimes and reuters.

During his address, Macron emphasized the necessity for nations, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, to seek "strategic autonomy" to navigate the geopolitical landscape without being overly reliant on major powers. He invited Asian countries to foster alliances with Europe that would promote shared interests and mutual stability, asserting that there should be no dependency on either the US or China. "We want to cooperate, but we don't want to depend," he stated, reflecting Western fears of being caught in a geopolitical tug-of-war, according to latimes and bbc.

US Defense Secretary Hegseth echoed the sentiments shared by Macron about China's military ambitions, remarking that China is "credibly preparing" for aggressive moves against Taiwan. He underlined that any effort to invade the self-governing island would not only be detrimental to regional stability but could have significant global implications. His comments were made in the context of ongoing tensions between China and the US, highlighting a growing urgency in addressing the complex dynamics at play in the Indo-Pacific region, according to indiatimes and reuters.

Macron's address and the subsequent backlash from China illustrate the delicate balance of international relations in the region, with many nations caught in between the competing interests of superpowers. The dialogue served as a critical platform for discussing these tensions, especially with regard to potential repercussions of a Russian victory in Ukraine on the broader geopolitical landscape, especially concerning China's actions in Taiwan, according to bbc and reuters.