TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) welcomed French Senate Vice President Didier Mandelli and his delegation to Taiwan on Monday.
Lin thanked France for the joint statement issued earlier this month by French President Emmanuel Macron and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, which reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Lin said that France’s Military Programming Law explicitly states that as an Indo-Pacific power, it will continue to defend freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait, demonstrating its commitment to security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
France last sent a military ship through the Taiwan Strait in October 2024, according to Taiwan’s defense ministry.
Lin said Taiwan values cooperation with France in areas such as artificial intelligence, aerospace, energy, and culture. As the EU advances its AI Continent Action Plan and moves to establish AI gigafactories, Taiwan will be an indispensable partner for France in pursuing strategic autonomy and reindustrialization, he said.
The foreign minister said Mandelli’s visit underscores French support for Taiwan. Lin said he looked forward to deepening mutual understanding and strengthening the friendship between Taiwan and France.
During China’s Justice Mission 2025 military exercise around Taiwan in December, France reiterated its “opposition to any unilateral changes in the status quo, especially through force or coercion” and urged “all parties to refrain from any escalation.”
It added that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are “vital to global security and prosperity.”
