The French president Emmanuel Macron insisted on Wednesday that being an “ally” of the US does not mean being a “vassal”, fully backing controversial statements he made about Taiwan.

“Being an ally it doesn’t mean you’re submissive, doesn’t mean you don’t have the right to think for yourself,” he said during a press conference in Amsterdam. “France is in favor of the status quo in Taiwan,” he said. the one China policyand the search for a peaceful settlement of the situation,” he added.

In an interview with Politico news outlet and Les Echos newspaper, Macron had warned of the risk of being drawn into a crisis over Taiwan. In the event of a conflict over Taiwan, “the worst thing would be for us, the Europeans, to turn into followers” and “adapt to American rhythms and Chinese overreaction”, Macron had said, arguing in favor of a “strategic autonomy” of the EU.

Republican lawmakers in the US had expressed strong dismay at Macron’s remarks regarding Taiwan.

“If France is truly committed to abandoning democratic nations in favor of a brutal communist regime, the United States must reevaluate its attitude toward France,” said Rep. Chris Smith, chairman of the Congressional Executive Committee on China. He called Macron’s statement “seemingly a betrayal of democratic Taiwan.”