International apprehensions regarding China continues as now the French President Emmanuel Macron called for the creation of a new strategic alliance.
He named France, India and Australia as participants who would need to respond to challenges in the Asia-Pacific region and the growing assertiveness of China.
Macron made the statement on the second day of a visit to Australia, where he hopes to cement defence ties following the 2016 signing of a $38 billion megadeal to supply submarines to the Australian Navy.
The French President said that the like-minded democracies should forge closer ties.
He went on to point out that to be respected by China as an equal partner, the countries need to organize themselves.
Macron visited China in January, where he warned Beijing that its new “Silk Road” initiative should not be “one-way”.
He then flew to India in March, where he committed to strengthen a defence partnership that has already seen New Delhi buy French warplanes in 2016.
This new Paris-Delhi-Canberra axis is absolutely key for the region and our joint objectives in the Indian-Pacific region,” Macron said.
France has island territories spanning the Indo-Pacific: Reunion and Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, and Noumea, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia in the Pacific.
