A tugboat escorts the French Navy ship Vendemiaire (F734), a Floreal-type surveillance frigate of the French National Navy, on arrival for a five-day goodwill visit to a Metro Manila port, Philippines, on March 12, 2018. REUTERS / Romeo Photo Ranoco / File
The European Union decided on Monday to step up its influence in the Indo-Pacific region, using areas from security to health to protect its interests and counter China’s rising power, although the bloc insists that its strategy is not against Beijing.
Led by France, Germany and the Netherlands, which first set out ways to deepen ties with countries such as India, Japan and Australia, the 27-member bloc wants to use the nascent plan to show Beijing that it is against the spread of authoritarianism.
The bloc “believes that the EU should strengthen its strategic focus, presence and actions in the Indo-Pacific … based on the promotion of democracy, the rule of law, human rights and international law,” they said. EU foreign ministers in a statement. Diplomats said the plan was not “anti-Chinese.”
The ten-page document will now follow a more detailed strategy in September, Foreign Ministers agreed at a video conference, saying they would try to work with “like-minded partners” to defend basic rights in the Indo-Pacific region.
The plan could mean a higher EU diplomatic profile on Indo-Pacific issues, more EU personnel and investment in the region, and possibly a greater security presence, such as sending ships across the South China Sea. or the position of Australian patrols to Europeans, although all details have yet to be agreed.
While not mentioning China in detail, the language of the EU statement is the code of support for the United States led by President Joe Biden in his approach to China, amid concerns that Beijing is pursuing technological and military modernization. which threatens the West and its trading partners in Asia.
EU diplomats say the Indo-Pacific countries want the EU to be active in the region to keep trade open and ensure they do not face an election between Beijing and Washington, whose relations are they become confrontational.
The EU statement, which follows similar plans by former EU member Britain, comes as European attitudes tighten against China over its security crackdown in Hong Kong, the treatment of Uyghur Muslims and the COVID-19 pandemic, first identified in China.
“The EU will continue to develop partnerships and strengthen synergies with related partners and relevant security and defense organizations,” the EU statement said.
“This will include responding to international security challenges, including maritime security.”
It is not clear to what extent the EU is willing to go to security. The blog is hungry for new trade and sees the Indian-Pacific offering potential.
It listed the commitment to seek free trade deals with Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has warned that the EU would be missing, after China and other Asian and Pacific economies signed what could become the world’s largest free trade agreement from 2022 .
The EU document also said the bloc wanted to sign an investment treaty with China that both sides agreed in principle in late 2020.
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