On Dingli Shen's "Why China sees the EU as a counterweight to America"

Sir,

The European Union and China are both emerging as strategic military actors on the global security stage, with enormous implications for the current world order. They have similar outlooks on many international issues; both focus on stability and conflict prevention, with action based on policy coordination. They also favour strengthening the United Nations and making sure the UN takes the lead in regional and global conflict prevention, coordinates international anti-terrorism measures and is at the centre of global efforts to maintain peace and stability. A partnership between China and Europe based on such common views would not only be an important development for the world, it would also contribute to the achievement of their foreign policy ambitions.

For Europe, the starting point was really the creation of the European Security and Defence Policy in 1999. Since then, the EU has developed operational capabilities, set up institutional structures for civilian and military crisis management, launched the European Defence Agency, adopted the European Security Strategy and deployed civilian and military missions around the globe. It is all evidence of the political will within the EU to establish itself as a credible player in foreign and security affairs.

The EU’s potential to become a real political and military power is, however, being held back. The EU lacks a joint military arsenal, and more significantly European security and defence policy is still characterised by divergent national policies. This means that for the moment the EU lacks a clear profile as an international player. Only when the EU starts to speak with one voice will it be able to take a more active role in shaping global developments. It is therefore in Europe's best interest to take on more global responsibility.

As most people would acknowledge, peace and security are pre-requisites for sustainable development. The EU has already shown great competence in conflict management as a means of restoring stability and safeguarding peace. Its Mission to Congo showed that the EU can make a crucial contribution to crisis prevention and peace operations. But sustainable development is also the best structural response to the deep-rooted causes of violent conflicts and the rise of terrorism, which is often linked to poverty, bad governance and lack of access to natural resources. Think what a difference it could make if China and the EU championed sustainable development as part of a joint approach to international security.