EU’s Taiwan Policy in The Context of European Strategic Autonomy

Abstract

This article analyzes the European Union's (EU) Taiwan policy in the context of European strategic autonomy. The concept of European strategic autonomy lacks a clear framework and is challenged by the inherent problems of its applicability. Historically, strategic autonomy has been present in EU documents and discourse for over a decade, but its meaning has been transformed by regional and global challenges. The situation becomes more complex in the context of the EU's Taiwan policy, which is the focus of this study. On the one hand, EU official documents show that rising tensions and regional geopolitical challenges in the Indo-Pacific, especially in the Taiwan Strait, have a direct impact on Europe's security. On the other hand, the EU officially respects the 'One China policy', albeit with caution on issues such as respect for democratic norms and human rights. Moreover, in terms of the EU's Taiwan policy, the strategic autonomy approach could have very important economic, political, security and defense implications. However, this article argues that the EU is unlikely to act as an autonomous actor in the Indo-Pacific region due to the push and pull factors of global actors such as the United States and China. It analyzes the EU's Taiwan policy within the framework of strategic autonomy, sheds light on EU-Taiwan relations and assesses the challenges to European strategic autonomy in the Indo-Pacific region.

Keywords

• European Strategic Autonomy
• European Union
• Taiwan
• Indo-Pacific

Avrupa Stratejik Özerkliği Bağlamında AB’nin Tayvan Politikası

Öz

Bu makale, Avrupa Birliği'nin (AB) Tayvan politikasını Avrupa'nın stratejik özerkliği çerçevesinde incelemektedir. Avrupa stratejik özerkliği kavramı hem net bir çerçevesinin olmaması hem de AB için uygulanabilirliğinin doğasında var olan sorunlar nedeniyle zorluklarla doludur. Tarihsel olarak stratejik özerklik on yılı aşkın bir süredir AB belgelerinde ve söyleminde yer almakla birlikte, anlamı bölgesel ve küresel zorluklarla değişime uğramıştır. Bu çalışmanın odak noktası olan AB'nin Tayvan politikası bağlamında ise analiz daha kompleks bir hal almaktadır. Bir yandan AB'nin resmî belgelerine göre Hint-Pasifik bölgesinde ve özellikle Tayvan Boğazı'nda artan gerilim ve bölgesel jeopolitik zorluklar Avrupa'nın güvenliği üzerinde doğrudan etkiye sahiptir. Öte yandan AB, demokratik normlara ve insan haklarına saygı gibi konularda bazı çekinceler ortaya koysa da resmi olarak 'Tek Çin politikasına' saygı duymaktadır. AB'nin Tayvan politikası açısından stratejik özerkliğin önemli ekonomik, siyasi, güvenlik ve savunma sonuçları bulunmaktadır. Ancak bu makale, Amerika Birleşik Devletleri ve Çin gibi aktörlerin itme ve çekme faktörleri nedeniyle AB'nin Hint-Pasifik bölgesinde özerk bir aktör olarak hareket kabiliyetinin sınırlı olduğunu savunmaktadır. Makale, AB'nin Tayvan politikasını stratejik özerklik çerçevesinde analiz etmekte, AB-Tayvan ilişkilerine ışık tutmakta ve Hint-Pasifik bölgesinde Avrupa'nın stratejik özerkliğine yönelik zorlukları değerlendirmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Avrupa stratejik özerkliği
• Avrupa Birliği
• Tayvan
• Hint-Pasifik

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