America’s Appendage? How China Sees the European Union in the Indo-Pacific

In recent years, countries in Europe have expressed strong support toward the Indo-Pacific as part of their respective global outreach, in particular the UK, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. This paper argues that the main reason countries as such have devoted substantial attention to the Indo-Pacific is due to their concerns with China’s rise and what this means for the rules-based international order. To this end, Chinese thinkers assume that European countries are in the region in large part due to pressure from the United States and the extent to which the idea of the West is being revived again so as to counter China. Such perceptions would complicate efforts by the European Union (EU) to maintain a sustained presence in the region, particularly if Beijing elects to apply economic pressure on the European community. This paper argues that the EU would have to find ways to distinguish itself from the United States if it is going to be viewed by countries in the region as a key stakeholder.