EU Seeks Bigger Role in Asia's 'Theatre of Tensions', Warns on China

Kamis, 12 Mei 2022 | 15:06 WIB
EU Seeks Bigger Role in Asia's 'Theatre of Tensions', Warns on China
[ILUSTRASI. Workers clean a panel with the EU logo during arrivals for an EU summit at the Europa building in Brussels, Belgium June 21, 2019. Virginia Mayo/Pool via REUTERS]
Reporter: Sumber: Reuters | Editor: Thomas Hadiwinata

KONTAN.CO.ID - TOKYO, May 12 (Reuters) - European Union leaders said on Thursday that the EU wants to become a bigger actor in Asia, which they termed a "theatre of tensions", warning of an increasingly assertive China even as they called on Beijing to defend the multilateral global order.

The call came in a joint news conference in Tokyo after an EU-Japan summit featuring European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. It also came a day after Beijing warned the summit not to "speak ill" of China.

The trio said they would keep up talks on ways to maximise their partnership to tackle Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, in areas such as energy as well as aid, joining in a statement to call for the immediate cessation of hostilities.

Baca Juga: North Korea Officially Reports First COVID-19 Outbreak

But Michel and von der Leyen, in Japan for the latest in a series of annual talks, also said they were aware that regional tensions existed in Asia as well, and that the EU wanted - and needed - to take on a bigger role.

"The Indo-Pacific is a thriving region. It is also a theatre of tensions," von der Leyen said. "Take the situation in the East and South China Sea and the constant threat of the DPRK (North Korea)." "The European Union wants to take a more active role in the Indo-Pacific. We want to take more responsibility in a region that is so vital to our prosperity."

Both warned of China's close relationship with Russia, which calls its actions in Ukraine a "special military operation", and condemned unilateral moves to change the status quo in any region of the world. "Our cooperation in Ukraine is critical but it is also important in the Indo-Pacific, and we also want to deepen our consultation on a more assertive China," Michel said..

"We believe that China must stand up to defend the multilateral system that it has benefited from."

The meeting came a day after China said that while a strong EU-Japan relationship was beneficial, it shouldn't go too far. "I also need to emphasize that the EU-Japan summit is a matter between themselves but they should not speak ill of China, let alone interfere in China's internal affairs," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Wednesday.

Both Michel and von der Leyen welcomed Japan's participation in measures against Russia, including sanctions. "We welcome the increasingly strong stance Japan is taking against Russia," von der Leyen said at the start of their talks.

Baca Juga: Copper Gains as China COVID Cases Ease, Demand Still at Risk

Tokyo has joined the European Union and Group of Seven nations in imposing trade sanctions on Russia, that have cramped Moscow's ability to export its oil and gas. But Japan is heavily reliant on energy imports, including purchases from Russia. Last week Kishida said Japan would "in principle" ban Russian oil but it has been more reluctant to disengage from some projects.

The three officials were meeting in the Japanese capital for an annual conference that was held online last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Von der Leyen will leave Japan on Thursday afternoon, while Michel will travel to the nuclear memorial city of Hiroshima, where he will offer flowers, and leave at the weekend.

"In light of the war in Ukraine, this will be an opportune time to send a powerful message of peace and of hope," he said.

Bagikan

Berita Terbaru

Inflasi Juni Capai 0,19%, Dipicu Harga Beras
| Rabu, 02 Juli 2025 | 09:20 WIB

Inflasi Juni Capai 0,19%, Dipicu Harga Beras

Secara tahunan, inflasi tercatat sebesar 1,87%, naik dibanding bulan sebelumnya yang tercatat sebesar 1,6%

Aset Negara per Akhir 2024 Rp 13.600 Triliun
| Rabu, 02 Juli 2025 | 09:03 WIB

Aset Negara per Akhir 2024 Rp 13.600 Triliun

Aset negara mencapai Rp 13.692,4 triliun per 31 Desember 2024, naik dibanding 2023 yang sebesar Rp 13.072,8 triliun

Profit 28,44% Setahun, Harga Emas Antam Hari Ini Melompat Lagi (2 Juli 2025)
| Rabu, 02 Juli 2025 | 08:30 WIB

Profit 28,44% Setahun, Harga Emas Antam Hari Ini Melompat Lagi (2 Juli 2025)

Harga emas Antam hari ini (2 Juli 2025) Rp 1.913.000 per gram. Di atas kertas pembeli setahun lalu bisa untung 28,44% jika menjual hari ini.

Surplus Dagang Naik Pasca Perang Mereda
| Rabu, 02 Juli 2025 | 08:08 WIB

Surplus Dagang Naik Pasca Perang Mereda

Neraca perdagangan Indonesia pada bulan Mei 2025 mencatatkan surplus sebesar US$ 4,3 miliar, jauh lebih besar dari bulan sebelumnya

Defisit Anggaran 2025 Melebar dari Target
| Rabu, 02 Juli 2025 | 07:47 WIB

Defisit Anggaran 2025 Melebar dari Target

Menurut Menteri Keuangan Sri Mulyani Indrawati, jika tidak dilakukan efisiensi anggaran, defisit bisa lebih lebar lagi

Sektor Manufaktur Kian Loyo, Laju Ekonomi Masih Lesu
| Rabu, 02 Juli 2025 | 07:35 WIB

Sektor Manufaktur Kian Loyo, Laju Ekonomi Masih Lesu

PMI Manufaktur Indonesia pada bulan Juni merupakan terendah sejak April 2025 dan sejak Agustus 2021 lalu

Manufaktur Lesu, IHSG Jeblok di Awal Semester II, Simak Rekomendasi Saham Hari Ini
| Rabu, 02 Juli 2025 | 06:41 WIB

Manufaktur Lesu, IHSG Jeblok di Awal Semester II, Simak Rekomendasi Saham Hari Ini

Level ini di bawah ekspektasi dan menunjukkan  PMI Indonesia di zona kontraksi selama tiga bulan terakhir. Ada kekhawatiran, permintaan menurun

Nilai Tukar Rupiah Terangkat Data Ekonomi
| Rabu, 02 Juli 2025 | 06:30 WIB

Nilai Tukar Rupiah Terangkat Data Ekonomi

Penguatan rupiah didukung sentimen risk-on yang menguat, didukung oleh data manufaktur China yang kembali ke level ekspansi.

Geopolitik Memanas, Harga Komoditas Energi Berfluktuasi
| Rabu, 02 Juli 2025 | 06:15 WIB

Geopolitik Memanas, Harga Komoditas Energi Berfluktuasi

Berdasarkan data Bloomberg, harga minyak WTI telah meningkat 9,9% dalam sebulan terakhir ke level US$ 65,71 per barel pada Selasa (1/7)

Anak Berbakti
| Rabu, 02 Juli 2025 | 06:10 WIB

Anak Berbakti

Jika menyangkut perusahaan publik, maka ada kepentingan investor individu sebagai pemegang saham yang juga harus diperhatikan.

INDEKS BERITA

Terpopuler