THE RISE OF CHINA AND THE EU’S BALANCING POLICY: AN ANALYSIS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF GLOBAL SYSTEMIC RIVALRY

Abstract

This study examines the strategic dilemmas posed by China's global rise for the European Union (EU). In this context, it focuses on how Europe balances its geopolitical autonomy with protecting its economic interests in the face of China. The theoretical framework is based on realism and liberalism approaches, and also analyzed from a structuralist perspective emphasizing the EU's identity construction and normative aspects. Based on current sources, the study demonstrates that the EU's discourse on strategic autonomy encompasses not only security and defense, but also the management of economic dependence and value-based foreign policy dimensions. Differing attitudes among member states make it difficult to form a common strategic vision. The study also discusses how Beijing perceives the EU's claim to strategic autonomy, considering it alongside Chinese leadership statements, official documents, and academic debates. The study outlines the costs and probability dimensions of the EU's strategic options, discussing possible future scenarios such as cooperation, conflict, and bilateral adaptation. The overall contribution of the article is to reconceptualize EU-China relations along the lines of power balance and the pursuit of normative autonomy, while also offering practical implications for policymakers.

Keywords

• European Strategic Autonomy
• EU-China Relations
• Geopolitical Autonomy
• US-China-EU Relations
• EU's Normative Identity

ÇİN’İN YÜKSELİŞİ VE AB’NİN DENGE POLİTİKASI: KÜRESEL SİSTEMİK REKABET ÇERÇEVESİNDE BİR ANALİZ

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Çin'in küresel yükselişinin Avrupa Birliği (AB) için yarattığı stratejik ikilemleri incelemektedir. Bu bağlamda, Avrupa'nın jeopolitik özerkliğini Çin karşısında ekonomik çıkarlarını korumakla nasıl dengelediğine odaklanmaktadır. Teorik çerçeve, realizm ve liberalizm yaklaşımlarına dayanmakta ve ayrıca AB'nin kimlik inşası ve normatif yönlerini vurgulayan yapısalcı bir perspektiften de analiz edilmektedir. Mevcut kaynaklara dayanarak, çalışma, AB'nin stratejik özerklik söyleminin sadece güvenlik ve savunmayı değil, aynı zamanda ekonomik bağımlılığın yönetimi ve değer temelli dış politika boyutlarını da kapsadığını göstermektedir. Üye devletler arasındaki farklı tutumlar, ortak bir stratejik vizyon oluşturmayı zorlaştırmaktadır. Çalışma ayrıca, Pekin'in AB'nin stratejik özerklik iddiasını nasıl algıladığını, Çin liderliğinin açıklamaları, resmi belgeler ve akademik tartışmalarla birlikte ele alarak tartışmaktadır. Çalışma, AB'nin stratejik seçeneklerinin maliyet ve olasılık boyutlarını özetleyerek, işbirliği, çatışma ve ikili uyum gibi olası gelecek senaryolarını tartışmaktadır. Makalenin genel katkısı, AB-Çin ilişkilerini güç dengesi ve normatif özerklik arayışı doğrultusunda yeniden kavramsallaştırmak ve aynı zamanda politika yapıcılar için pratik çıkarımlar sunmaktır.

Keywords

• Avrupa Stratejik Özerkliği
• AB-Çin İlişkileri
• Jeopolitik Özerklik
• ABD-Çin-AB İlişkileri
• AB'nin Normatif Kimliği

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