Responding to Change in Asia-Pacific: European Contributions to Secure Peace and Stability in Asia-Pacific?

Abstract

Next to traditional security challenges, defence ministers at the 2013 Shangri-La Dialogue emphasised the new prominence of “non-traditional” security threats facing the Asia-Pacific region. With a security environment predominantly shaped by a “realist” paradigm, rising tensions are calling into question the ability of the existing institutional architecture to manage regional security. Stability in the region and keeping maritime routes open are also key interests for the Europeans. Amid growing potential for conflict, there are still more declarations than deeds in EU-Asia security cooperation; Europe’s role is constrained by colonial baggage and a “tyranny of distance” – and a primacy of trade. This paper argues that Europe and Asia-Pacific, facing many of the same challenges, can learn from each other and find particularly in the field of non-traditional security challenges promising areas for cooperation, exchange and confidence building. Having been presented at the 27th Asia- Pacifc Roundtable in Kuala Lumpur in June 2013, this paper identifies areas in which the EU and its Member States could act as a source of inspiration, expertise and technology as well as partners for Asian-Pacific states and organisations in addressing both traditional and non-traditional security challenges.