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Stepping Into New Waters: The EU as a maritime security actor in the South China Sea

Hasanbegovic, Ajla LU (2022) STVM23 20212
Department of Political Science
Abstract
China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea towards its neighbouring countries has been a clear awakening for the European Union as well as its member states. The situation has attracted military vessels from the United States whose mission has become to ensure the continuation of freedom of navigation and movement in the South China Sea. However, the EU’s involvement in the situation is a rather tricky one since the EU has for a long time considered China as an economic partner. However, the EU’s large dependency of an open and safe trade route makes it extremely dependent on the continuation of an open and safe shipping route. Therefore, it also makes the EU sensitive to the outcomes in the South China Sea. It is clear that... (More)
China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea towards its neighbouring countries has been a clear awakening for the European Union as well as its member states. The situation has attracted military vessels from the United States whose mission has become to ensure the continuation of freedom of navigation and movement in the South China Sea. However, the EU’s involvement in the situation is a rather tricky one since the EU has for a long time considered China as an economic partner. However, the EU’s large dependency of an open and safe trade route makes it extremely dependent on the continuation of an open and safe shipping route. Therefore, it also makes the EU sensitive to the outcomes in the South China Sea. It is clear that the disputes in the region has triggered a rethinking in the EU on future strategic positions. This is particularly noticeable in more recent years through revised policy guidelines, joint communications, and speeches where the call for the EU to take on a role as a security actor in the region as well as promoter of a rule-based international system has been made.
Whilst not wanting to spark unnecessary conflicts with China, the EU has had to dig in its toolbox for which policy instruments to use. This thesis seeks to answer what capacities and capabilities the EU has in order to respond and act as a security actor in the region. As well as what the nature of the EU’s response is to Chinese activities in the South China Sea, and how the EU works to ensure freedom of navigation and freedom of movement on trade in the area. (Less)
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author
Hasanbegovic, Ajla LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVM23 20212
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
South China Sea, soft power, hard power, constructivism, realism, defence diplomacy, EU actorness, capacities and capabilities, France, Germany, China, security actor
language
English
id
9070440
date added to LUP
2022-03-14 12:43:36
date last changed
2022-03-14 12:43:36
@misc{9070440,
  abstract     = {{China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea towards its neighbouring countries has been a clear awakening for the European Union as well as its member states. The situation has attracted military vessels from the United States whose mission has become to ensure the continuation of freedom of navigation and movement in the South China Sea. However, the EU’s involvement in the situation is a rather tricky one since the EU has for a long time considered China as an economic partner. However, the EU’s large dependency of an open and safe trade route makes it extremely dependent on the continuation of an open and safe shipping route. Therefore, it also makes the EU sensitive to the outcomes in the South China Sea. It is clear that the disputes in the region has triggered a rethinking in the EU on future strategic positions. This is particularly noticeable in more recent years through revised policy guidelines, joint communications, and speeches where the call for the EU to take on a role as a security actor in the region as well as promoter of a rule-based international system has been made.
Whilst not wanting to spark unnecessary conflicts with China, the EU has had to dig in its toolbox for which policy instruments to use. This thesis seeks to answer what capacities and capabilities the EU has in order to respond and act as a security actor in the region. As well as what the nature of the EU’s response is to Chinese activities in the South China Sea, and how the EU works to ensure freedom of navigation and freedom of movement on trade in the area.}},
  author       = {{Hasanbegovic, Ajla}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Stepping Into New Waters: The EU as a maritime security actor in the South China Sea}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}