Next to traditional security challenges, defence ministers at the 2013
Shangri-La Dialogue emphasised the new prominence of “non-traditional”
security threats facing the Asia-Pacific region. With a security environment
predominantly shaped by a “realist” paradigm, rising tensions are calling into
question the ability of the existing institutional architecture to manage
regional security. Stability in the region and keeping maritime routes open
are also key interests for the Europeans. Amid growing potential for conflict,
there are still more declarations than deeds in EU-Asia security cooperation;
Europe’s role is constrained by colonial baggage and a “tyranny of distance” –
and a primacy of trade. This paper argues that Europe and Asia-Pacific, facing
many of the same challenges, can learn from each other and find particularly
in the field of non-traditional security challenges promising areas for
cooperation, exchange and confidence building. Having been presented at the
27th Asia- Pacifc Roundtable in Kuala Lumpur in June 2013, this paper
identifies areas in which the EU and its Member States could act as a source
of inspiration, expertise and technology as well as partners for Asian-Pacific
states and organisations in addressing both traditional and non-traditional
security challenges
