European nations ‘determined to stay relevant’ in Asia-Pacific, South China Sea

As tensions rise in the region, heavyweights like Britain, Germany and France are keen to show they are more than just passive trading partners, analysts say

Sending warships to the disputed waters also ‘provides European governments with more leverage’ when dealing with the US and China on geopolitical matters closer to home

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Britain is planning to send its aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to the Asia-Pacific. Photo: AFP

Lee Jeong-hoin Hong KongandKeegan Elmerin Beijing

Published: 12:00pm, 15 Sep 2019Updated: 11:09pm, 15 Sep 2019

Major European nations are seeking to raise their profile in the Asia-Pacific, with freedom of navigation operations and concern about rising tensions in the South China Sea signalling their desire to remain relevant in the region, analysts say.

“Until a few years ago, European countries preferred to keep a low profile on regional security issues in East Asia, but under the present circumstances there is a new urgency to be involved,” said Frans-Paul van der Putten, a senior research fellow at the Clingendael Institute, an independent think tank in the Netherlands.

“Sending warships to the South China Sea can provide European governments with more leverage when it comes to dealing with the US and China on geopolitical matters closer to home.

“Europe has long been accustomed to being situated between two great powers – the United States and Russia – but increasingly it is the US-China relationship that defines Europe’s geopolitical position. This creates new dilemmas for European governments, that are under increasing pressure to choose sides.”

Van der Putten’s assessment comes after Britain, France and Germany said in a joint statement late last month that they were “concerned about the situation in the South China Sea, which could lead to insecurity and tension in the region”.