Being an ally does not mean being a US vassal: French President Macron

Amsterdam, Netherlands: French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday said that France is not a ‘vassal’ of the US, while still being an ally.

His disregard of the US supremacy comes weeks after his comments during China visit where he asked Europe not to chain themselves to the US foreign policy.

He advised his European counterparts not to get caught in the standoff between China and US over Taiwan.

Despite causing dismay and disbelief in the US and Europe over the change in French policy, Macron went on to stick by his independent stand on US-China standoff.

He said Europe should not be a "follower" of either Washington or Beijing or get caught up in any escalation, according to news agency AFP.

Macron reportedly told media in Amsterdam that being ally did not mean being a vassal and added it did not also mean ‘we don’t have the right to think for ourselves’.

However Macron said that France supports status quo in Taiwan alongside calling for a ‘peaceful resolution to the situation’.

Macron’s comments came as he was ‘wrapping up a state visit to the Netherlands’, becoming the first French president to visit the nation in 23 years.

Macron received a pompous welcome which included a boat trip on a scenic canal and a dinner in the famed Rijksmuseum.

Only a day earlier former US president Donald Trump attacked Macron saying that the French president was ‘ kissing’ Chinese president’s ‘ass’, referring to Macron’s China visit.

When asked comment about Trump’s remarks, Macron shied away from directly attacking Trump.

However he reportedly said that ‘nothing to say about the comments by former president Trump because he is taking part in this escalation’.