The European Union and the 21st-century realities: A document analysis examining changes in EU policies towards Southeast Asia following the rise of China

Abstract

This study explores changes in the European Union’s policies towards Southeast Asia, following China’s recent increased assertiveness in the region. The study's primary objective is to investigate how the EU adapts to a shifting global political environment, as revealed through a qualitative analysis of specific EU documents concerning China's rise and its implications for the EU. The theoretical framework is based on the opposing international relations theories of realism and liberalism, with a focus on the concepts of containment and engagement, and with the aim of providing a comprehensive understanding of the rationale behind the EU's decision-making towards Southeast Asia and China. Different concepts of power are also discussed in the study, and mainly the divergence between hard and soft power in EU policy. Although the EU has traditionally adopted a normative, values-based, and liberal approach to global strategic action, prioritizing soft power over concrete measures, this study finds that China's assertiveness in Southeast Asia has prompted the EU to adopt a more pragmatic and decisive approach, which represents a shift to a policy strategy more focused on containment than engagement. Despite this shift, the EU's fundamental liberal values remain central to its strategy, and this research ultimately seeks to analyze what the appropriate balance between these values and the realities of global politics might be, given the rise of China as a global superpower.