Taiwan's foreign minister met the new head of France's office in Taipei, pointing to steadily warmer ties in trade, defense signaling, and culture — a positive sign for Taiwan's search for European backing.

• Taiwan wants to build out the relationship through technology, culture, parliament-to-parliament contacts, and city-level links, and to take joint projects into third countries.
• More than 200 French companies now invest in Taiwan, while Taiwanese firms including Foxconn and Gogoro-affiliated battery maker ProLogium are expanding in France.
• France has backed stability in the Taiwan Strait through public statements, parliamentary action, and warships sailing through the strait.
• The new French representative, Frédéric Laplanche, speaks fluent Chinese and is on his third posting to Taiwan, having also written a book on French impressions of the island.

Outlook: Expect more trade and investment announcements between the two sides, along with continued French naval presence near Taiwan that will irritate Beijing.