A French presidential candidate just told 2 million people watching: if China takes Taiwan, don't expect France to do anything about it. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a declared 2027 candidate, said at an HEC Paris conference on October 5 that France under his leadership would not join the US in any war over Taiwan. His words: "Taiwan is part of China." He argued France should treat China as a partner, not an enemy, warning that failing to negotiate with Beijing could get France "crushed." His reasoning traces back to 1964, when Charles de Gaulle recognized the PRC. But that's a stretch. France's actual diplomatic language, even in a 1994 statement that went further than most, has never fully matched what Mélenchon said on stage. Current French policy keeps deliberate ambiguity and maintains real, if unofficial, ties with Taiwan. He's said this before, back in May, including that defeating China would take "dozens of nuclear weapons." This wasn't a slip. It's his actual position heading into 2027. The clip has drawn millions of views, and plenty of pushback, including from people who point out he defends self-determination for other peoples but not for Taiwan's 23 million citizens living in a democracy.