French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire has echoed President Emmanuel Macron's call for Europe to assert its economic independence and sovereignty, stating that the European Union should not be intimidated or manipulated by the rivalry between the US and China. He emphasized that being an ally of the US does not mean Europe should be against China.
Le Maire's remarks followed Macron's recent visit to China, where he sought to establish a different relationship compared to the US's tougher stance on Beijing. Le Maire emphasized the importance of engaging in dialogue with China, while also upholding human rights and territorial sovereignty.