Macron’s push for ‘strategic autonomy’ away from US finds resonance: EU

European Council President Charles Michel says many European leaders are beginning to favor French President Emanuel Macron's ‘strategic autonomy’ away from the United States and his push to reduce dependence on the US dollar.

Early this week, Macron said Europe should decrease its dependence on the “extraterritoriality of the US dollar", arguing that if tensions between the US and China heat up, the European countries would not have the time nor the resources to finance their strategic autonomy.

In that case, "we will become vassals,” he warned, Speaking to media persons on his plane back from a three-day state visit to China on Monday, urging his fellow European leaders to become self-reliant. 

“The great risk” Europe face is that it gets "caught up in crises that are not ours, which prevents it from building its strategic autonomy", Macron further said at the time, urging European leaders to focus on staying out of a potential conflict between Washington and Beijing over Chinese Taipei (Taiwan).

As controversy around Macron's controversial  remarks arises, Michel on Wednesday said the French leader's  position that European countries should resist pressure to become Washington's followers was not isolated among EU leaders and that his views reflect an increasing shift among the leaders of the bloc.

"There has been a leap forward on strategic autonomy compared to several years ago," Michel told French television show La Faute à l'Europe in an interview set to air on Wednesday, the Politico magazine reported.

"On the issue of the relationship with the United States, it's clear that there can be nuances and sensitivities around the table of the European Council. Some European leaders wouldn't say things the same way that Emmanuel Macron did ... I think quite a few really think like Emmanuel Macron," he added.

Macron says Europe must cut reliance on US dollar, seek ‘strategic autonomy’

French President Emmanuel Macron calls on European countries to lower their dependence on the US dollar and resist pressure to become vassal states of Washington or take sides in the China-US conflict over Taiwan.

Macron, according to reports, also urged Europe to reduce its dependence on the US for weapons and energy and focus on boosting local industries. 

Hours after his flight headed back to Paris from Guangzhou, Beijing launched large military exercises around the self-ruled island of Taiwan and the US Navy destroyer also sailed in the South China Sea on Monday.

China has sovereignty over Taiwan, and under the ‘One China’ policy, almost all world countries recognize that sovereignty. The US, which backs Taiwan's secessionist president, has also recognized Chinese sovereignty over the island, but has long courted Taiwan in an attempt to unnerve Beijing. Washington is Taiwan’s main supplier of military equipment.

China has vowed to take Taiwan back one day, even by force if necessary. 

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