EU-NORTHEASTASIA

As seen from North-East Asia: Potential and limits of the EU as a strategic actor

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'This research project explores the potential, and the limits, of the EU as a strategic actor in North-East Asia. It does so by focusing on a comparative analysis between EU motivations and aspirations towards China on space and defence matters and the perceptions and reactions of Chinese on the one hand and of Japanese, Taiwanese, South Korean and American policy makers on the other hand. The project is informed by and relates to the literatures on European foreign policy and the international politics of North-East Asia. It is innovative as it links these two broad areas of research. The study engages with the major viewpoints in these literatures and uses the method of structured, focused comparison for the purposes of examining both intended and inadvertent consequences of European foreign policy towards a country (China) for the surrounding regional system (North-East Asia) and the US’ strategic interests in the area. This would lend itself to a wider analysis of the potential, and of the limits, of European foreign policy and of the EU as a novel strategic actor. The research findings would provide both empirical knowledge on the determinants for the promotion of EU space and defence interests in China and on the perceptions and reactions of North-East Asian and American policy makers as well as theoretical insights into EU strategic actorness. The project would contribute to revisit current views in the literatures on European foreign policy and the international politics of North-East Asia by adding the analysis and discussion of the EU as a novel strategic actor in the region. The research findings would also be of use for EU policy-makers in developing a more precise set of policies tailored to China and North-East Asia in order to better promote EU interests and values in a part of the world that has become increasingly important for the socio-economic welfare of the EU.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

The Chinese, South Korean and Japanese economies are very important on a global scale, and US interaction with these economies is significant. Europe must examine its role in North-east Asia and explore regional ties both geopolitically and economically.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Can Europe be a strategic player in the political and economic dynamics of Asian countries such as China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea? The EU-NortheastAsia project is exploring the potential and limits of EU involvement in this important region. It is focusing on EU motivations and aspirations towards China on space and defence matters, as China is the pivotal power in the region.

The project is also examining the perceptions and reactions of Chinese policy-makers, on the one hand, and of Japanese, Taiwanese, South Korean and American policy-makers, on the other. By linking these two important viewpoints, the project is examining both intended and inadvertent consequences of European foreign policy towards China and the region, also taking into account US strategic interests in the area. Such a project could clarify the EU's potential, role and limits in North-east Asia.

To begin with, the project has examined how promoting EU space and defence interests in China position the Union as a strategic actor, and what the implications would be for EU foreign policy in the area. It examined EU co-operation with China on space and satellite navigation, paying particular attention to Sino-European collaboration on the Galileo satellite system. The project then investigated arguments by EU policy-makers for improving military and defence technology ties with China, including the proposal to lift the EU arms embargo.

The research found that these initiatives had been suggested and/or adopted by the Union and its Member States to advance political relations with Beijing and foster EU global competitiveness in key high-tech industrial sectors. This was seen as increasing independence from the US in a part of the world that had become increasingly important for the Union's socio-economic welfare.

These research findings were published and studied closely by policy-makers. The second part of the project explored in detail how EU-China co-operation in space technology and satellite navigation, in addition to military and defence rapprochement, have been perceived in North-east Asia and the US. In addition, it examined Japanese, South Korean, Taiwanese and American policy-makers' strong opposition to lifting the EU arms embargo on China.

Evidence has shown that the EU is now being perceived in the region not only as an economic power bloc but also as a potential strategic actor. Fieldwork research and interviews led to the establishment of a network of contacts with scholars in some of the region's most prestigious universities, as well as policy-makers in the ministries of foreign affairs, defence, and science and technology.

The project's final evaluation report has resulted in wider analysis of the potential for and limits of the EU as a strategic actor in North-east Asia, giving invaluable insight into the region's strategic dynamics.