Strategic Maneuvers

Javier Solana, High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) of the EU, has confirmed in Beijing, that the EU Council of Ministers plans to lift the EU weapons' embargo ,,in the foreseeable future."The pertinent decision shall be rendered prior to the expansion of the EU on May 1, 2004. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's European visits to Brussels, Berlin and Rome at the beginning of May, could then serve as confirmation of the strategic policy partnership with China, just as does the 7th Chinese-European summit during the second half of the year. Solana stated in Beijing: ,,In the future, we plan to deal jointly with pivotal international problems."

Premiere

An early result of the aspiration for closer military cooperation with China is the first participation of a European state in joint maneuvers with the Chinese navy. The French navy participated in the, until now, largest exercise with a foreign navy in the history of the People's Republic. The joint maneuvers took place prior to the election of a new president of Taiwan which, accompanied by a controversial referendum concerning ,,policies of independence", is considered - according to a recent statement by the German chancellor - as highly symbolic support for Beijing's Taiwan policy.

Willingness to change strategy

In contrast to the EU, Berlin has been pressing, for some time, for a strengthened involvement in East Asia and China, especially in the area of military policy. It has been suggested that, so far, foreign policy concerning the region had been determined too much by economic interests and hasn't had any tangible influence. ¹⁾In the European Commission's ,,Country Strategy Paper 2002-2006"which deals with China, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswaertige Politik (DGAP, German foreign policy society) criticizes the ,,lacking willingness to change strategy of the EU within the framework of its European regulatory policy in Asia"and recommends alignment with the concepts of the Foreign Office concerning Asia. The first EU defense strategy, initiated by Berlin, which recommends the extension of a ,,safety zone"beyond Europe and, for this purpose, proposes that ,,strategic partnerships"with China and India should be helpful in view of their significant military role ,,in their respective regions and beyond". ²⁾

Berlin - Beijing - Delhi

Berlin seeks to solidify military policy cooperation with China and India through a ,,trilateral defense dialogue with India, China, Germany". Ten years ago, the consultations had been initiated as a ,,German-Indian defense dialogue"by the Konrad Adenauer foundation of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in cooperation with India's leading defense policy think tank, the Institute for Strategic Studies and Analyses (IDSA) and, since 1997, China. During this year's (February 17-19) conference in New Delhi Karl Lamers (CDU), member of the defense and foreign committee of the German parliament, met with high level representatives of both States. Lamers, supporter of a self-confident German-European global policy, reports that the position of the USA in global politics was ,,specifically"discussed. The discussion partners coordinated the views of Beijing, Delhi and Berlin concerning strategic developments in Asia and discussed contingencies for cooperation on the continent's ,,defense problems".

1) See also earlier article Background Report: Strategic Partnership and Containment
2) See also earlier articles EU Strategy: ,,Preemptive Wars", worldwideand Plans for Action

Sources:
Zur Zukunft der EU-China-Beziehungen im 21. Jahrhundert; www.dgap.org
Deutsch-Indischer Sicherheitsdialog; www.kas.de
Militaerischer Schulterschluss; Junge Welt 17.03.2004
Bruessel setzt auf die chinesische Karte; Die Welt 18.03.2004