Since the mid-1990s, the European Union has defined the Asia Pacific as one of its key strategic targets on its ambitious road towards a global power. Over the past decades, big changes have taken place on both sides and the wider world. It's high time to evaluate the EU's performance in its Asian policy. In fact, the EU is at crossroads with its Asia Pacific policy. On several aspects, the EU is compelled to redefine its interests and roles, and rethink its strategies and policies towards the dynamic and ever important Asia Pacific region. This volume addresses this theme, by elaborating the general context, major issues and countries in the EU's Asia Pacific policy. It covers issue areas of traditional security, economy and trade, public diplomacy, and human security and focuses on the EU's relations with China, Japan, the ASEAN countries, and Australasia.

• Front matter
• Contents
• Tables
• Figures
• Contributors
• Preface
• Abbreviations
• Introduction: The European Union’s Asia-Pacific strategies and policies at the crossroads
• PART I: General strategic context
  • The European Union in the Asia-Pacific: strategic reflections
  • A European pivot towards Asia? Inter-regionalism in a new era
• PART II: Major issues and themes
  • European Union security policy and initiatives in the Asia-Pacific
  • Assessing the European Union’s economic relations with the Asia-Pacific
  • Public diplomacy of the European Union in East Asia
  • The European Union’s approach to human security: lessons from the Asia-Pacific
• PART III: Selected countries and groups
  • The European Union’s partnership with China: navigating between trouble and promise
  • Shifting constraints, evolving opportunities and the search for the “strategic” in the European Union and Japan bilateral partnership
  • The European Union’s security strategy in the ASEAN region
  • The European Union in Australia and New Zealand
• Index