The Relevance Of Military Security Of The European Union In East And South-East Asia

Periods of crisis are conducive to strategic readjustments and should give way to an improved focus on top priorities. Europe and Asia are deeply interdependent. The economic crisis is clearly affecting both regions; but these mutual economic fragilities should also be measured in security terms. Europe cannot present itself as a global actor that has China as its second-largest trading partner and that signed an extremely ambitious bilateral trade agreement with South Korea, without being more engaged in Asian security issues. Asian countries are asking for more involvement and see the EU as a more neutral actor than the United States. Europe must commit itself more courageously in supporting regionalism and multilateral security platforms, and to developing security dialogues with East Asian countries, large and small. Finally, Europe has everything to gain through more concrete engagement with China. A wide spectrum of soft security issues could allow Europe to construct shared agendas with the Chinese authorities, while also positively impacting on the autonomy and legitimacy of Chinese civil society. A more structured agenda for a selected engagement with Beijing is urgently required.The EU’s present day role in the solution of global security issues has increased both in quality and in quantity, as the EU engages in conflict solving outside the union’s territory. The EU has been engaged in more than20missions and operations using both civilian and military means and capabilities. However, Europe faces complex and asymmetrical threats, problems and new challenges which to a certain extent have been affected by the increasing globalization, the conflicts that have broken out in the EU’s neighboring countries, and the existence of a number of unstable and weak countries.Security environment today is changing and Europe should be ready to face new challenges. This is also demonstrated by the new Report on the Implementation of the European Security Strategy which was adopted by the European Commission on11-12December2008. The report’s goal is based in the best practice of the earlier security strategy. This report reflects the need to implement a more co-ordinate security and defense policy; a greater involvement in the regions neighboring the EU; a greater emphasis on the development of crisis management and military competence, and an effective use thereof; multilateral approach within the EU co-operation with such global partners as NATO, the UN, and the OSCE, as well as the importance of transatlantic co-operation. The EU has evaluated and defined the new security-related challenges:the impact of climate change on security, capacity building in cyber security, energy security, etc.The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton chairs the EU Member States Foreign Ministers Meetings in the framework of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council and General Affairs Council, and she is a Vice President of the European Commission concerning the foreign issues. At the same time the High Representative is a chairperson of the European External Action Service (EEAS).Today, the region has come into excessive international focus for several reasons. Despite China’s colossal stature (being geographically, economically and politically the largest country in the region) and continuous muscle flexing, there has been an increasing determination on the part of other claimant countries not to dilute their respective stands. Further, all claimants to the SCS have been expanding their military and law enforcement capabilities. Vietnam and the Philippines, in particular, have taken to an increasingly confrontational posture towards China. Illustrative of this was the open clash between China and the Philippines over who owns islands in the South China Sea at the ASEAN summit held in Phnomh Penh in November2012. Similarly, the summit held earlier this year in July broke up acrimoniously and without a joint communique, with China facing accusations of using its clout to force the host Cambodia to keep the territorial issue off the agenda.The South China Sea dispute between China and some of its South East Asian neighbours-Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei-has reached an impasse. Increasingly assertive positions among claimants have pushed regional tensions to new heights. Driven by potential hydrocarbon reserves and declining fish stocks, Vietnam and the Philippines in particular are taking a more confrontational posture with China. All claimants are expanding their military and law enforcement capabilities, while growing nationalism at home is empowering hardliners pushing for a tougher stance on territorial claims. In addition, claimants are pursuing divergent resolution mechanisms; Beijing insists on resolving the disputes bilaterally, while Vietnam and the Philippines are actively engaging the U.S. and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). To counter diminishing prospects of resolution of the conflicts, the countries should strengthen efforts to promote joint development of hydrocarbon and fish resources and adopt a binding code of conduct for all parties to the dispute.