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

Terlilit Gagal Bayar, Danasyariah Sempat Gandeng BPR Syariah Milik Eks Direktur OJK
| Sabtu, 25 Oktober 2025 | 10:07 WIB

Terlilit Gagal Bayar, Danasyariah Sempat Gandeng BPR Syariah Milik Eks Direktur OJK

Kelangsungan usaha perusahaan peer to peer lending (P2P lending) PT Dana Syariah Indonesia (Danasyariah) dipertanyakan.

CEO Finetiks Cameron Goh Bagikan Tips Investasi: Diversifikasi dan Mengelola Risiko
| Sabtu, 25 Oktober 2025 | 08:42 WIB

CEO Finetiks Cameron Goh Bagikan Tips Investasi: Diversifikasi dan Mengelola Risiko

Cameron Goh, CEO & Founder Finetiks menilai,  dalam berinvestasi, investor perlu memahami pengelolaan risiko

FUTR Siapkan Ekspansi Usai Bertransformasi ke Bisnis Energi Hijau
| Sabtu, 25 Oktober 2025 | 08:37 WIB

FUTR Siapkan Ekspansi Usai Bertransformasi ke Bisnis Energi Hijau

Mengupas rencana bisnis PT Futura Energi Global Tbk (FUTR) usai beralih bisnis ke sektor energi hijau

BI Bakal Merilis Instrumen Baru Lengkapi SRBI
| Sabtu, 25 Oktober 2025 | 07:32 WIB

BI Bakal Merilis Instrumen Baru Lengkapi SRBI

Surat berharga ini, akan mendampingi Sekuritas Rupiah Bank Indonesia (SRBI) yang selama ini juga diterbitkan BI

Target Perbaikan Coretax Rampung di Awal Tahun
| Sabtu, 25 Oktober 2025 | 07:20 WIB

Target Perbaikan Coretax Rampung di Awal Tahun

Ditjen Pajak memperkirakan pelaporan SPT Tahunan perdana melalui Coretax bakal menurun              

Momok APBD yang Tersimpan di Brankas Bank
| Sabtu, 25 Oktober 2025 | 07:05 WIB

Momok APBD yang Tersimpan di Brankas Bank

APBD yang harusnya jadi motor penggerak ekonomi daerah menjadi sia-sia lantaran banyak dana hanya disimpan untuk mendapat bunga.

Keadilan Perpajakan bagi Pekerja
| Sabtu, 25 Oktober 2025 | 07:00 WIB

Keadilan Perpajakan bagi Pekerja

Keadilan pemungutan pajak penghasilan atau PPh tidak perlu lagi mengalah terhadap kesederhanaan pajak.

Marketing Sales Puradelta Lestari (DMAS) Baru 35% dari Target
| Sabtu, 25 Oktober 2025 | 06:05 WIB

Marketing Sales Puradelta Lestari (DMAS) Baru 35% dari Target

Namun demikian, DMAS tetap berusaha untuk mencapai target tahun ini sehubungan dengan masih ada pipeline lahan sekitar 75 ha.

Digital Mediatama (DMMX) Membalikkan Rugi Jadi Laba
| Sabtu, 25 Oktober 2025 | 05:20 WIB

Digital Mediatama (DMMX) Membalikkan Rugi Jadi Laba

Sepanjang sembilan bulan 2025, laba bersih DMMX sebesar Rp 28,65 miliar.Pada periode yang sama di 2024 lalu, DMMX rugi  mencapai Rp 46,39 miliar.

Laju Kredit Konsumsi Kian Tak Bertenaga
| Sabtu, 25 Oktober 2025 | 04:55 WIB

Laju Kredit Konsumsi Kian Tak Bertenaga

Penyaluran kredit konsumer oleh perbankan belum menunjukkan tanda perbaikan signifikan di tengah daya beli yang masih tertahan.

INDEKS BERITA