At the second EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in Stockholm on Saturday 13 May, representatives from EU countries and 26 countries in the Indo-Pacific region reaffirmed their cooperation and called for the region not to become “another theatre of rivalries”.
“Now (one year after the start of the war in Ukraine), the aggression continues. I think this has created a different momentum, even for our relations with the Indo-Pacific countries and regional organisations”, said the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, at the Forum. “Our relations reflect this new reality, maybe the feeling that the world needs more cooperation to face this challenging situation”, he added.
The aim of the Forum for the EU was to build economic partnerships with countries in the region, which now generates two thirds of global growth and 25% of European exports, and to promote peace, security and stability.
“Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has clearly shown that in a globalised world there are no ‘safe distances’ from disruptive shocks”, the European External Action Service (EEAS) said in a statement.
Participants also reaffirmed the importance of respecting the principles of the UN Charter.
Tensions in the China Seas
At the closing press conference, some questions from journalists focused on China, which was not invited to the meeting. Josep Borrell replied that it was “impossible not to count on China, but there are places in which we can discuss our common interests without having to have China among us. It does not mean that we neglect China, it does not mean that we want to substitute China”.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also spoke about the relationship between the EU and China at a press conference ahead of the G7 (see other news) on Monday 15 May. “We are looking for a ‘multifaceted’ approach to our economic relations with China. It is characterised by de-risking, not by decoupling”.
She also stressed reducing the EU’s strategic dependencies on China and suggests that the two economic powers “stand together as partners on core foreign policy and security challenges. This means that we will continue to call on China to refrain from supporting Russia’s war”.
However, some participants warned against the country’s attempts to destabilise the situation in the China Sea, as mentioned by Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi: “China is also stepping up its military activities around Taiwan”, he said, adding that “in this difficult environment in the Indo-Pacific region, it is vital to work not only with the countries in the region, but also with sensible European countries, to maintain a free and open international order based on the Rule of law”.
Participants also reported on the progress of the EU’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and the partnerships between the EU and a number of countries in the region in the areas of trade, green transition, ocean governance, digital, transport connectivity, security and defence, as well as humanitarian aid.
Finally, the EU highlighted its ambition to establish a European-wide naval presence in the Indo-Pacific region and expressed its intention to engage in regional fora, such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) or the ASEAN Plus Defence Ministers’ meetings. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)