China slams Macron for Ukraine–Taiwan comparison, calls it "double standard"

China has strongly rejected recent attempts to draw a connection between the defence of Ukraine and the security of Taiwan, calling such comparisons a “double standard.”

The criticism appeared to be directed at French President Emmanuel Macron, who had made the link during a keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on the evening of May 30, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Speaking to an audience of defence officials and international experts, Macron warned that allowing Russia to seize any portion of Ukraine without consequences could set a dangerous precedent. “What could happen in Taiwan?” he asked, suggesting that failure to uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty might embolden similar actions elsewhere.

In response, the Chinese Embassy in Singapore issued a Facebook statement on May 31 condemning such comparisons. “The two are different in nature and not comparable at all,” the statement read, emphasising that Beijing considers Taiwan to be a strictly internal matter. “If one tries to denounce a ‘double standard’ with a double standard, the only result we can get is still a double standard,” it added.

Though the embassy did not mention Macron by name, the post included a photo of him speaking at the summit. The response highlights Beijing’s sensitivity to international remarks on Taiwan, which it views as an inseparable part of China. In contrast, Taiwan's democratically elected government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and insists that only the island’s citizens have the right to determine its future.

Unlike in previous years, when China sent senior military officials to the Shangri-La Dialogue, this year it was represented by a lower-level delegation of military scholars. Despite the lower profile, Taiwan remained a key topic throughout the three-day event.

On May 31, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the summit, describing China as an “imminent” threat and warning that any military action to take Taiwan would have “devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world.”

Diplomats attending the summit said Macron’s remarks were part of a broader and recurring theme. One East Asian envoy noted, “The message from many backing Ukraine is that the line must be held if a message is to be sent to China.” Conversations on the sidelines frequently touched on concerns that a Russian victory in Ukraine might embolden Beijing to act more aggressively toward Taiwan.

By Tamilla Hasanova