"Europe Is Irrelevant in Asia."
No. It is often said -- most often and loudly by Singapore's Mahbubani -- that though the EU may remain relevant in its neighborhood, it is irrelevant in Asia, the region that will matter most in the 21st century. Last November, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton proclaimed that the U.S. "pivot" to Asia was "not a pivot away from Europe" and said the United States wants Europe to "engage more in Asia along with us."
But Europe is already there. It is China's biggest trading partner, India's second-biggest, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)'s second-biggest, Japan's third-biggest, and Indonesia's fourth-biggest. It has negotiated free trade areas with Singapore and South Korea and has begun separate talks with ASEAN, India, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. These economic relationships are already forming the basis for close political relationships in Asia. Germany even holds a regular government-to-government consultation -- in effect a joint cabinet meeting -- with China. If the United States can claim to be a Pacific power, Europe is already a Pacific economy and is starting to flex its political muscles there too.
Europe played a key role in imposing sanctions against Burma -- and in lifting them after the military junta began to reform. Europe helped resolve conflicts in Aceh, Indonesia, and is mediating in Mindanao in the Philippines. While Europe may not have a 7th Fleet in Japan, some member states already play a role in security in Asia: The British have military facilities in Brunei, Nepal, and Diego Garcia, and the French have a naval base in Tahiti. And those kinds of ties are growing. For example, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is trying to diversify Japan's security relationships, has said he wants to join the Five Power Defense Arrangements, a security treaty that includes Britain. European Union member states also supply advanced weaponry such as fighter jets and frigates to democratic countries like India and Indonesia. That's hardly irrelevance.
BERTRAND LANGLOIS/AFP/Getty Images
SUBJECTS:
