Facing down dictatorship: Macron calls for united Europe-Asia front

French President Emmanuel Macron made his remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier annual defense and security conference, held in Singapore. His speech came amid Russia’s continued resistance to diplomatic pressure to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, and growing concerns among capitals over Beijing’s increasing assertiveness toward Taiwan and in the South China Sea.

Macron urged the international community to unite in the face of countries seeking to seize territories and resources.

"We have a challenge of revisionist countries that want to impose - under the name of spheres of influence - spheres of coercion," the president said.

Macron’s address followed his tour of Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore, during which he positioned France as a reliable alternative for the region caught between Washington and Beijing.

He called on leaders at the conference to "build a positive new alliance between Europe and Asia, based on our common norms, on our common principles."

"Our shared responsibility is to ensure with others that our countries are not collateral victims of the imbalances linked to the choices made by the superpowers," he added.

He also cautioned Asian leaders against viewing the war in Ukraine as a distant conflict that does not concern them.

"If we consider that Russia could be allowed to take a part of the territory of Ukraine without any restriction, without any constraint, without any reaction of the global order, how would you phrase what could happen in Taiwan?" he asked.

Last week, President Emmanuel Macron held a phone conversation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

They discussed, among other things, Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Recently, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian commented on the possibility of a truce between Ukraine and Russia, stating that Beijing "supports all efforts aimed at peace."