The European Union and the modernisation of the People's Liberation Army navy: the limits of Europe's strategic irrelevance

This article argues that the European Union has more interests in the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) modernization and maritime security issues in East Asia than has traditionally been recognized. The PRC’s naval modernization intersects with the EU’s foreign and security policy interests in five main areas: the international Law of the Sea; the risks for Europe of being dragged into an Asian maritime conflict and the safety of European trade with Asian partners; Europe's competitiveness in international markets for naval military systems; the potential for maritime security cooperation against non-traditional threats; and finally, the arms embargo issue and the question of naval technology transfers to China. Through an assessment of the current PLAN modernization, and Europe’s significant contribution to this effort, the article argues that European policy towards China does not adequately address these five policy areas.