[ad_1]
Professor François Godement, senior expert at the Montaigne Institute |
“So far, the European Union has not been able to formulate a unified policy in the South China Sea because this issue requires a consensus” among member countries, but the three largest members take a common position. a big step because it affirms the protection of free movement in the region, the arbitration mechanisms of the United Nations and in particular, the details in the content of the note are of special importance, GS Godement said.
For these points, according to Professor Godement, three European countries have a more determined attitude than the joint declaration of August 30, 2019 on the occasion of the G7 summit in the city of Biarritz (France). At the time, they also expected China and ASEAN countries to enter into dialogue to find a peaceful solution to the South China Sea.
He said that this move is in the framework of “carrying out the general policy of the European Union towards the South China Sea.” In the Global Strategy announced in 2016, the EU declared “to support freedom of movement, a firm commitment to respect international law, including the Law of the Sea and arbitration procedures, and to promote a peaceful settlement. disputes at sea ”.
Dr. Antoine Bondaz, expert from the French Foundation for Strategic Studies (FRS) |
Dr. Antoine Bondaz, an expert at the French Foundation for Strategic Studies (FRS), said that Paris, London and Berlin regularly affirm their support for international law, especially UNCLOS. Three countries in particular, along with Europe, are very interested in the protection of international law. “There is always a coordination between countries that support multilateralism and respect international law, from this perspective, Europe is cooperating with Australia, Japan, to some extent the United States. and some other countries ”. In the future, cooperation between “like-minded” countries regarding the South China Sea is very likely to be further strengthened, especially if the EU develops its own strategy for the Indo-Pacific space. Ocean. However, it regrets that other European Union countries have not signed the note, especially Belgium and Estonia, which are currently non-permanent members of the UN Security Council.
“This note does not change the fundamental position of Europe, which absolutely respects international law and rejects the change of the status quo, as China is doing now.” The key point of the new note is “to recall the international commitments in which China has participated and the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration of The Hague, in the context of Beijing that seeks to change the status quo at sea. Orient and manipulate international law misinterpreting and without proper foundation. “
“Although not a major turning point, the note from Britain, France and Germany states that Europe’s interests are closely related to developments in the Indo-Pacific, especially in the East Sea,” says Dr. Bondaz . “It is time for European countries to work together more at Union level” in this regard. Member countries should expand the dialogue on the South China Sea, based on the creation of a separate strategy for the region and invite countries with similar visions such as India, Australia, Japan and Vietnam. join.
[ad_2]
