TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday thanked French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot for reaffirming France’s opposition to any attempt to alter the Taiwan Strait status quo by force or coercion.

The ministry said Barrot made the remarks during a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday, per CNA. He said France opposes the use or threat of force to change cross-strait relations.

Barrot also highlighted deepening cooperation in energy, AI, and semiconductors. Such fields, he noted, align with France’s reindustrialization and strategic autonomy goals.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) thanked France for its support, saying peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are essential to global prosperity and security. He added that Taiwan and France share core democratic values and have in recent years made significant progress in trade and cultural exchanges.

The ministry said it will continue working with other like-minded European partners to safeguard democracy and promote peace and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific.