Contents List of tables List of figures Notes on contributorsPrefaceList of abbreviationsIntroduction: The European Union’s Asia-Pacific strategies and policies at the crossroads Weiqing Song and Jianwei WangPart I: General strategic context1 The European Union in the Asia-Pacific: strategic reflections Michael Reiterer2 A European pivot towards Asia? Inter-regionalism in a new era Julie GilsonPart II: Major issues and themes3 European Union security policy and initiatives in the Asia-Pacific Fulvio Attinà4 Assessing the European Union’s economic relations with the Asia-Pacific Miguel Otero-Iglesias5 Public diplomacy of the European Union in East Asia Suetyi Lai and Li Zhang6 The European Union’s approach to human security: lessons from the Asia-Pacific Evangelos FanoulisPart III: Selected countries and groups7 The European Union’s partnership with China: navigating between trouble and promise Gustaaf Geeraerts8 Shifting constraints, evolving opportunities and the search for the “strategic” in the European Union–Japan bilateral partnership Elena Atanassova-Cornelis9 The European Union’s security strategy in the ASEAN regionReuben Wong10 The European Union in Australia and New Zealand Nicole SciclunaIndex

'At a time when both the EU and Asian regional groups are facing significant pressures from the global power shift, this remarkable collection of essays offers both cutting edge analysis and suggests pathways for their mutual interaction and advancement. A valuable read for scholars and policy-makers alike.'Amitav Acharya, Distinguished Professor of International Relations, American University, Washington, D.C.'This welcome volume is well organised, brings together a strong set of expert contributors and benefits from a strong set of common themes and questions. It raises and explores a range of highly significant ideas about the EU’s capacity to become a strategic actor in East and Southeast Asia, and analyses them from both a European and an Asia-Pacific perspective.'Michael Smith, Professor in European Politics, University of Warwick'It is high time for the EU to rethink its strategic priorities in the Asia-Pacific region. This volume does full justice to this aim, in terms of both coverage and depth. A first-rate account.'Pascal Vennesson, Professor of Political Science, S. Rajaratnam School of International Relations, Nanyang Technological University, SingaporeSince the mid-1990s, the European Union (EU) has defined the Asia-Pacific region as a key strategic target on its ambitious road towards being a global power. In light of internal challenges within the EU and new developments in world politics, the EU is being compelled to redefine its interests and roles, and rethink its strategies and policies towards the ever more important and dynamic Asia-Pacific region. This volume is the first to examine the EU’s foreign policy towards the region in such comprehensive detail, covering security policy, economy and trade, public diplomacy and human security.

'At a time when both the EU and Asian regional groups are facing significant pressures from the global power shift, this remarkable collection of essays offers both cutting edge analysis and suggests pathways for their mutual interaction and advancement. A valuable read for scholars and policy-makers alike.' Amitav Acharya, Distinguished Professor of International Relations, American University, Washington, D.C 'This welcome volume adds significantly to the literature on relations between the European Union and Asia-Pacific. It is well organised, brings together a strong set of expert contributors and benefits from a strong set of common themes and questions. It raises and explores a range of highly significant ideas about the EU’s capacity to become, and be recognised as, a strategic actor in East and Southeast Asia, and subjects them to analysis and evaluation from both a European and an Asia-Pacific perspective.' Michael Smith, Professor in European Politics, University of Warwick 'It is high time for the EU to rethink its strategic priorities in the Asia-Pacific region. This volume does full justice to this aim, in terms of both coverage and depth. Overall, this is first-rate account of its subject and a necessary read for anyone seeking a better understanding of both the EU and the Asia Pacific at the beginning of the 21st century.' Pascal Vennesson, Professor of Political Science, S. Rajaratnam School of International Relations, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore