Europeans wish to stay neutral in potential US-China war over Taiwan: Poll

 

Europeans wish to stay neutral in potential US-China war over Taiwan: Poll

The survey is in line with the French president's belief that Europe must not "get caught up in crises that are not ours".

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) - Most Europeans would like to stay out of a potential conflict between the US and China over Taiwan, according to a survey released Wednesday (June 7) by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).

About 62% said they wanted to remain neutral if war broke out between Washington and Beijing. Twenty-three percent said they would like their country to support the US, 4.7% said they supported China, and 10% said they did not know.

The survey, which took place in April, involved 16,168 respondents from 11 EU member states, including Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden.

The survey found that Sweden, Poland, Denmark and the Netherlands are the countries where the US is likely to secure more support, but even in these countries, a majority would prefer neutrality.

And this despite the fact that Europeans recognize the threat of China in terms of its economic influence. According to the survey, the European public does not seem to share the view that NATO's eastern flank and the Indo-Pacific theaters are closely linked.

The survey also indicated a desire for European countries to rely less on the US for security guarantees. The results are in line with French President Emmanuel Macron's controversial remarks during a state visit to China in April that Europe must not "get caught up in crises that are not ours". He also emphasized the need for Europe's "strategic autonomy" to avoid becoming "America's follower"