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France-Taiwan relations

France	Taiwan
Diplomatic mission
French Office in Taipei	Taipei Representative Office in France
Envoy
Director Jean-François Casabonne-Masonnave	Representative Wu Chih-chung

French and Chinese forces engaged in battles around Taiwan in the late 19th century. In the early 20th century, the French Third Republic established dipomatic relations with the Republic of China (ROC). In 1964 France became the first European country to switch recognition to the People's Republic instead but continued to sell major weapon platforms to the ROC following its retreat to Taiwan. This ended in 1994 when France upgraded its relations with the PRC, accepting Taiwan as a part of China.

History

Qing dynasty

During the Sino-French War in 1884, French warships entered Taiwan seas and disrupted coastal provinces.

Meanwhile, the French decided to put pressure on China by landing an expeditionary corps in northern Taiwan to seize Keelung and Tamsui, redeeming the failure of 6 August and finally winning the 'pledge' they sought. On 1 October Lieutenant-Colonel Bertaux-Levillain landed at Keelung with a force of 1,800 marine infantry, forcing the Chinese to withdraw to strong defensive positions which had been prepared in the surrounding hills. The French force was too small to advance beyond Keelung, and the Pei-tao coal mines remained in Chinese hands. Meanwhile, after an ineffective naval bombardment on 2 October, Admiral Lespès attacked the Chinese defences at Tamsui with 600 sailors from his squadron's landing companies on 8 October, and was decisively repulsed by forces under the command of the Fujianese general Sun Kaihua (孫開華). As a result of this reverse, French control over Formosa was limited merely to the town of Keelung. This achievement fell far short of what had been hoped for.

Japanese colonial rule

During Japanese colonial rule, the Vichy regime opened a consulate in Taihoku in February 1942.

Republic of China

Early years

The French Third Republic recognized the establishment of the Republic of China (ROC) and established diplomatic relations with the Beiyang government on 7 October 1913. The Institut Franco Chinoise de Lyon (1921–1951) promoted cultural exchanges.

During World War II, Free France and the Nationalist government, who had overthrown the Beiyang and the warlords, fought as allied powers against the Axis powers of Germany, Italy and Japan. After the invasion of France in 1940, although the newly formed Vichy France was an ally of Germany, it continued to recognize the Kuomintang government of Chiang Kai-shek—which had to flee to Chongqing in the Chinese interior after the fall of Nanjing in 1937—rather than the Japanese-sponsored Reorganized National Government of China under Wang Jingwei. French diplomats in China remained accredited to the government in Chongqing.

Cold War

After the Chinese Civil War and the establishment of the new communist-led People's Republic of China (PRC) on 1 October 1949, the French Fourth Republic government refused to recognize the PRC after the ROC government retreated to Taiwan. However, by 1964 France and the PRC officially established ambassadorial level diplomatic relations ending relations with the ROC. This was precipitated by Charles de Gaulle's official recognition of the PRC. France continued to sell weapons to the ROC but put an end to this practice in 1994 when it normalised its ties with the PRC and accepted Taiwan as a part of China.

Recent history

In 2016, a delegation of French legislators led by Francois de Rugy visited Taiwan.

In 2018, China made accusations against France after a French naval vessel transited the Taiwan Strait.

In December 2020, Taiwan opened its second representative office in France, in Aix-en-Provence.

In October 2021, a delegation of French senators visited Taiwan.

In November 2021, the French parliament passed a resolution which called on the French government to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations. The Taiwanese government praised the resolution.

In December 2021, a delegation of lawmakers from the French National Assembly visited Taiwan.

In April 2023, French president Emmanuel Macron said "The question Europeans need to answer… is it in our interest to accelerate on Taiwan? No. The worse thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and take our cue from the U.S. agenda and a Chinese overreaction," along with "Europeans cannot resolve the crisis in Ukraine; how can we credibly say on Taiwan, ‘watch out, if you do something wrong we will be there’? If you really want to increase tensions that's the way to do it." during his three-day state visit to China.

In May 2023, Taiwanese solid state battery manufacturer ProLogium announced that it would open a 5.2 billion euro primary international production center in Dunkirk at a ceremony headlined by President Macron. The investment was partially intended as a hedge against political risk.

Military relations

Defense relations between France and Taiwan have been significant with Taiwan acquiring a number of major weapons platforms from France.

Scandals

Taiwan frigate scandal

The Taiwan frigate deal was a huge political scandal, both in Taiwan and France. Eight people involved in the contract died in unusual and possibly suspicious circumstances. Arms dealer Andrew Wang fled Taiwan to the UK after the body of presumptive whistleblower Captain Yin Ching-feng was found floating in the sea. In 2001, Swiss authorities froze accounts held by Andrew Wang and his family in connection to the Taiwan frigate scandal.

See also

• Taipei Representative Office in France
• French Office in Taipei
• Taiwan–European Union relations

References

1. Michel de Grandi (13 January 1994). "La France fait des concessions majeures à la Chine pour normaliser ses relations". Les Echos.
2. "Communiqué conjoint franco-chinois, en date du 12 janvier 1994, sur le rétablissement de relations de coopération entre la France et la Chine". Vie-publique.fr. Ministère des Affaires étrangères. 12 January 1994.
3. 林其泉. 台湾的根在福建 (PDF). 闽台关系史. 厦门大学历史系. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-10-12. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
4. Wang, Yifu (2006). 闽台缘与闽南凤: 闽台关系, 闽台社会与闽南文化研究. Fujian Education Publication House. ISBN 9787533445089. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
5. "French Consulate at Taihoku".
6. Ge Fuping, "Some Problems Concerning Institut Franco-Chinoise de Lyon ." Modern Chinese History Studies 5 (2000).
7. Young, Ernest (2013), Ecclesiastical Colony: China's Catholic Church and the French Religious Protectorate, Oxford University Press, pp. 250–251, ISBN 978-0199924622
8. Bhagwan Sahai Bunkar, "Sino-French Diplomatic Relations: 1964-81." China Report 20#1 (Feb 1984) pp 41-
9. Gosset, David (8 January 2009). "A Return to De Gaulle's 'Eternal China'". Greater China. Asia Times. Archived from the original on 19 January 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
10. Michel de Grandi (13 January 1994). "La France fait des concessions majeures à la Chine pour normaliser ses relations". Les Echos.
11. "Communiqué conjoint franco-chinois, en date du 12 janvier 1994, sur le rétablissement de relations de coopération entre la France et la Chine". Vie-publique.fr. Ministère des Affaires étrangères. 12 January 1994.
12. Chia-nan, Lin (18 December 2021). "France must take bolder action: delegation". www.taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
13. Hille, Kathrin; Mallet, Victor (25 April 2019). "China accuses France of illegally sailing warship in Taiwan Strait". Financial Times. The Financial Times. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
14. "Taiwan opens annex representative office in southern France". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
15. WU, HUIZHONG (6 October 2021). "French senators arrive in Taiwan amid tensions with China". apnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
16. Staff Writer (December 2021). "Government hails French resolution". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
17. Staff Writer (16 December 2021). "French MPs arrive for five-day visit". www.taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
18. "Taiwan leader meets French lawmakers, seeks support for peace". kyodonews.net. Kyodo News. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
19. "Taiwan's Tsai calls on Europe to welcome trade, promote democracy". aljazeera.com. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
20. "Europe must resist pressure to become 'America's followers,' says Macron". POLITICO. 2023-04-09. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
21. Guillaume, Gilles. "Taiwanese battery maker ProLogium eyes overseas base in France". reuters.com. Reuters. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
22. Thomson, Jono. "Taiwan battery firm invests billions in France, cites 'political issues' at home". taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
23. Hsuan-ting, Tseng; Huang, Frances. "Taiwan EV battery maker to build 'gigafactory' in France". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
24. Albert, Eleanor. "Is Taiwan Looking to Diversify Its Defense Partnerships?". thediplomat.com. The Diplomat. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
25. Trueheart, Charles (13 March 1998). "France Embroiled in Scandal du Jour". Washington Post. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
26. Schofield, Hugh (1 December 2003). "Book delves into frigate scandal". BBC News. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
27. Pan, Jason (15 July 2021). "High Court orders return of illegal proceeds". www.taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
28. Kirby, Emma-Jane (2 July 2001). "Swiss target Taiwan arms dealer". news.bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 13 October 2021.

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