European Union-China Strategic Partnership within the Scope of China's Mediterranean Policies

Yıl 2021, Cilt: 35 Sayı: 3, 1145 - 1164, 15.07.2021

Cemre Pekcan , Ayşe Gülce Uygun

https://doi.org/10.16951/atauniiibd.907251

Cited By: 1

Öz

The Strategic Partnership, established between the European Union and China in 2003, ensured the rapid development of bilateral relations. However, different approaches of the parties towards regional and global policies, fundamental values and norms led the European Union to define China as a “systemic rival” instead of “strategic partner. This article focuses on China's policies towards the Mediterranean through One Belt One Road project and how the European Union evaluates these policies. The main claim of the article is that China has developed individual partnerships with Mediterranean members by taking advantage of the disunity of the European Union and does not consider the European Union as a regional active actor within the scope of Mediterranean policies. In this framework, the European Union-China relations are examined during transformation from partnership to competition, and the Mediterranean is considered as a struggle area for the Union. In addition, China's policies towards the Mediterranean and China’s bilateral relations with Mediterranean members are analyzed. Finally, the concerns about China's increasing influence in the Mediterranean and their reflections in terms of the European Union unity are evaluated.

Anahtar Kelimeler

European Union, China, Mediterranean, Strategic Partnership, One Belt One Road Initiative

Çin’in Akdeniz Politikaları Kapsamında Avrupa Birliği-Çin Stratejik Ortaklığı

Öz

Avrupa Birliği ve Çin arasında temelleri 2003 yılında atılan Stratejik Ortaklık, ikili ilişkilerin birçok alanda hızla gelişmesini sağlamıştır. Buna karşın, tarafların bölgesel ve küresel politikalara, temel değerlere ve normlara yönelik yaklaşım farklılıkları, Avrupa Birliği’nin Çin’i zaman içerisinde ‘stratejik ortak’ yerine ‘sistemik rakip’ olarak tanımlamasına yol açmıştır. Bu makale, Çin’in Bir Kuşak Bir Yol projesi kapsamında Akdeniz’e yönelik politikalarına ve Avrupa Birliği’nin bu politikaları nasıl değerlendirdiğine odaklanmaktadır. Makalenin temel iddiası, Çin’in Avrupa Birliği’nin bütünleşememiş yapısından faydalanarak Birliğin Akdenizli üyeleriyle bireysel ortaklıklar geliştirdiği ve Avrupa Birliği’ni Akdeniz politikaları kapsamında bölgesel etkin bir aktör olarak değerlendirmediğidir. Bu bağlamda makalede Avrupa Birliği-Çin ilişkileri ortaklıktan rekabete dönüşen seyirde incelenmekte, Akdeniz, Birlik açısından bir mücadele alanı olarak ele alınmaktadır. Ayrıca, Çin’in Akdeniz’e yönelik politikaları ve Akdenizli üyeler ile kurduğu bireysel ikili ilişkilere odaklanılmakta; Çin’in Akdeniz’de artan etkinliğinin yarattığı endişeler ele alınarak, Avrupa Birliği açısından yansımaları değerlendirilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Avrupa Birliği, Çin, Akdeniz, Kuşak Yol Projesi, Stratejik Ortaklık

Kaynakça

• Ağaçlı, E. (2019, Ağustos 2). Doğu Akdeniz ve Çin. Yörünge. https://www.yorungedergi.com/2019/08/dogu-akdeniz-ve-cin/
• Akdemir, E. (2018). Avrupa Birliği’nin Dış İlişkileri Ve Politikası: Avrupa Birliği’nin Bütünleş(Eme)Mesi Üzerine Bir İnceleme. Ankara Avrupa Çalışmaları Dergisi, 17(2), 181-218.
• Albert, E. (2019). China’s Global Port Play. The Diplomat, https://thediplomat.com/2019/05/chinas-global-port-play/
• Al-Youm, A. (2019, August 7). Egypt, Chinese company sign MoU for container terminal in Alexandria. Egypt Independent, https://egyptindependent.com/egypt-chinese-company-signs-mou-for-container-terminal-in-alexandria/
• Amaro, S. (2019, November 15). China bought most of Greece’s main port and now it wants to make it the biggest in Europe. CNBC, https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/15/china-wants-to-turn-greece-piraeus-port-into-europe-biggest.html
• Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. (2020). https://www.aiib.org/en/about-aiib/index.html
• Berkofsky, A. (2019). China and the EU: “Strategic Partners” No More. Institute for Security & Development Policy, Issue Brief, https://isdp.eu/publication/china-and-the-eu-strategic-partners-no-more/
• Blanco, L. F. (2016). The functions of ‘strategic partnership’ in European Union foreign policy discourse. Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 29(1), 36-54.
• Broomfield, E. V. (2003). Perceptions of Danger: The China threat theory, Journal of Contemporary China. 12(35), 265-284, DOI: 10.1080/1067056022000054605
• Brown, S. A. W. (2011). Anything But Arms? Perceptions, the European Union and the Arms Embargo on China. Journal of Contemporary European Research, 7(1), 23-40.
• Brown,K. & Beatson, S. (2016). The European Union and China: The Need for a More Politicised Relationship. Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies, 3(3), 412–419.
• China Dialogue. (2020, December 17). Shift in Chinese energy investments set to help Greece reach climate targets. https://chinadialogue.net/en/business/greece-chinese-energy-investments-climate-targets/
• Dinç, C. (2011). Sivil Güç - Realist Oyuncu İkileminde Avrupa Birliği’nin Küresel Konumu Üzerine Tartışmalar. Uluslararası Hukuk ve Politika, 7(28), 89-124.
• Dingding, C. & Jianwei W. (2011). Lying Low No More? China‟s New Thinking on the Tao Guang Yang Hui Strategy. China: An International Journal, 9(2), 195-216. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0219747211000136
• Duggan, N. & Hodzi, O. (2020). The challenges of China-European Union security cooperation in Africa. Asia Europe journal, 19, 43-57. DOI: 10.1007/s10308-020-00585-0
• Elyatt, H. (2019, March 27). Is Italy playing with fire when it comes to China?. CNBC, https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/27/italys-joins-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative.html
• EU-China 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation. (2020). https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/20131123.pdf
• EU-China Relations. (2020). https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/34728/eu-china-relations-factsheet_en
• EUOBOR. (2020). European Institute for One Belt One Road Economic and Cultural Cooperation and Development. http://www.euobor.org/index.php?app=aboutus
• EURACTIV. (2020). China edges past US as Europe’s top trade partner, https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/china-edges-past-us-as-europes-top-trade-partner/
• European Commission. (2003). EU-China: Commission Adopts New Strategy for a Maturing Partnership. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_03_1231
• European Commission. (2017). “EU-China Relations”, https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/MEMO_16_2258
• European Commission. (2019). European Commission and HR/VP contribution to the European Council, EU-China – A strategic Outlook. https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/eu-china-strategic-outlook-commission-contribution-european-council-21-22-march-2019_en
• European Council. (1989, June 26-27). EU Declaration on China - Presidency Conclusions. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/20589/1989_june_-_madrid__eng_.pdf
• European External Action Service. (2011). EU-China Relations Chronology. https://eeas.europa.eu/archives/docs/china/docs/chronology_2011_en.pdf
• Ferrari, C. & Tei, A. (2020). Effects of BRI strategy on Mediterranean shipping transport. Journal of Shipping and Trade, 5(14), 8-9.
• Geeraerts G. (2013). EU-China Relations. In: Christiansen T., Kirchner E., Murray P. (Eds), The Palgrave Handbook of EU-Asia Relations (pp.492-505). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
• Godement, F. (2014, September 12). Europe engages China in earnest. European Council on Foreign Relations. https://ecfr.eu/article/commentary_europe_engages_china_in_earnest311/
• Green Belt and Road Initiative Center. (2020). https://green-bri.org/belt-and-road-initiative-quick-info
• Günar, A. (2019). Avrupa Bı̇rlı̇ğı̇’nde Stratejı̇k Ortaklık Kavramı: AB-Japonya Stratejı̇k Ortaklık Anlaşması. Uluslararası İlişkiler ve Diplomasi Dergisi, 2(1), 34-49.
• Huang,R. (2007). Çin Tarihi: Bir Makro Tarih Yaklasımı. (çev. Atilla Sönmez), İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi Yayınları.
• Johnson,K. (2018, February 2). Why Is China Buying Up Europe’s Ports?. Foreign Policy, https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/02/02/why-is-china-buying-up-europes-ports/
• Kahn Nisser, S. (2019). The EU, China, trade dependence and human rights. Cambridge review of international affairs, 1-21.
• Kamiński, T. (2019). The Sub-state Dimension of the European Union Relations with China. European Foreign Affairs Review, 24 (3), 367-386.
• Kavalski, E. (2019, March 29). China’s “16+1” Is Dead? Long Live the “17+1. The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2019/03/chinas-161-is-dead-long-live-the-171/
• Kırbaşoğlu, F. & Tüfekçi, Ö. (2020). Avrupa Bı̇rlı̇ğı̇’nı̇n Yükselen Güçler Polı̇tı̇kası: BRICS ve MIKTA Ülkelerı̇nı̇n Meydan Okumaları. Novus Orbis: Siyaset Bilimi ve Uluslararası İlişkiler Dergisi, 2(1), 39-70.
• Kinzelbach, K. & Thelle, H. (2011). Taking Human Rights to China: An Assessment of the EU's Approach. The China quarterly, 205 (205), 60-79.
• Koç, Y. E. (2020). Çin’in Akdeniz’deki Varlığı: Liman Yatırımları ve Deniz Tatbikatları. Kriter, 4(43). https://kriterdergi.com/dis-politika/cinin-akdenizdeki-varligi-liman-yatirimlari-ve-deniz-tatbikatlari
• Koçakoğlu, M. A. (2020). Kuşak Yol Girişimi Bağlamında Çin’i Anlamak, Truva Yayınları.
• Lalande,V. & Vivet, E. (2014). “EU Strategic Partnerships: Shallow political summits, active technical dialogues?”. European Council on Foreign Relations. https://ecfr.eu/article/eu_strategic_partnerships_shallow_political_summits_active_technical_dialog/
• Linden, R. H. (2018). The New Sea People: China in the Mediterranean. Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), 18(14), 1-21. DOI: 978-88-9368-081-3
• Louppova, J. (2016, October 18). APM Terminals Expands Chinese Partnerships in Italy. Port Today. https://port.today/apm-terminals-expands-chinese-partnerships-in-italy/
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. (2013, September 7). President Xi Jinping Delivers Important Speech and Proposes to Build a Silk Road Economic Belt with Central Asian Countries. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/topics_665678/xjpfwzysiesgjtfhshzzfh_665686/t1076334.shtml
• Mohan, G. (2018, March 30). Europe’s Response to the Belt and Road Initiative. GMF Policy Brief, 14. https://www.gmfus.org/publications/europes-response-belt-and-road-initiative
• Mosher, S. W. (2017). Bully of Asia: Why China's Dream is the New Threat to World Order. Regnery Publishing.
• O’Meara, S. (2020, August 26). China’s plan to cut coal and boost green growth. Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02464-5
• Office of the Secretary of Defense. (2020). Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2020. https://media.defense.gov/2020/Sep/01/2002488689/-1/-1/1/2020-DOD-CHINA-MILITARY-POWER-REPORT-FINAL.PDF
• Ouyang, W. (2018, August 27). Feature: Belt and Road Initiative energizes Spanish ports. Xinhua Net, http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-08/27/c_137422543.htm
• Parson, J. (2016). The People's Republic of China-European Union-Russian energy security triangle. International social science review, 92 (1), p.COVb
• Pekcan, C. (2019). Çin Dış Politikası ve ABD ile İlişkiler, Dora Basım Yayın Dağıtım.
• Russel, D. & Locklear, S. (2020). China Is Weaponizing the Belt and Road. What Can the US Do About It?. The Diplomat, https://thediplomat.com/2020/10/china-is-weaponizing-the-belt-and-road-what-can-the-us-do-about-it/
• Russel, D. R. & Berger, B. H. (2020). Weaponizing the Belt and Road Initiative. Asia Society Policy Institute. https://asiasociety.org/policy-institute/weaponizing-belt-and-road-initiative
• Schade, D. (2019). Of insiders and outsiders: Assessing EU strategic partnerships in their regional context. International Politics, 56, 375–394.
• Smith, M. (2016). EU Diplomacy and the EU–China strategic relationship: framing, negotiation and management. Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 29(1), 78-98.
• Statista. (2020). Trade balance of the European Union with China from 2009 to 2019. https://www.statista.com/statistics/257155/eu-trade-with china/#:~:text=Trade%20balance%20of%20the%20European%20Union%20with%20China%202009%2D2019&text=The%20graph%20shows%20the%20trade,than%20in%20the%20previous%20year
• Şahin, İ. (2019). Doğu Akdeniz’de Enerji Çatışması ve İşbirliği. Orsam, 3, 1-48.
• Tiezzi, S. (2014, June 3). Beijing’s ‘China Threat’ Theory. The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2014/06/beijings-china-threat-theory/
• Uygun, A. G. (2021). Doğu Akdeniz’de Paylaşım Rekabeti: Türkiye-Yunanistan Gerginliği ve Avrupa Birliği’nin Tutumu. TYB Akademi, 31, 69-89.
• Vogt, R. (2012). Europe and China: Strategic Partners or Rivals. Hong Kong University Press.
• Wangshu, L. (2018, August 22). Prosperity at Spanish ports rises. China Daily. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201808/22/WS5b7ca825a310add14f387097_1.html
• Witkowska, J. (2019). The attitudes of the European Union and China towards Foreign Direct Investment: implications for bilateral relations. Comparative economic research, 22 (3), 83-98.
• Ye, Q. & Han, S. (2019, March 22). China contributes to Italian port construction for win-win results. People’s Daily, http://en.people.cn/n3/2019/0322/c90000-9559340.html
• Yee, H. & Storey, I. (2002). The China Threat : Perceptions, Myths and Reality. Routledge Curzon.
• Zha, D. (2015). Energy Security in China-European Union Relations: framing further efforts of collaboration. Contemporary Politics, 21(3), 308-322.
• Zhou, H. (2017). An Overview of the China-EU Strategic Partnership (2003–2013). In Zhou, H. (Ed.). China-EU Relations: Reassesing the China-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (pp.3-31). Social Sciences Academic Press and Springer Science + Business Media Singapore.