Added Value or Strategic Irritant? Chinese Elite Perceptions of the EU's Indo‐Pacific Strategy

ABSTRACT

In September 2021, the European Union launched its Indo‐Pacific strategy, outlining its intention to strengthen its engagement in the region and add value to its partnerships there. The strategy, however, drew criticism from the Chinese side, particularly because it included Chinese Taiwan as a cooperating partner. To examine Chinese responses to this EU strategy, this study conducted in‐depth, one‐on‐one interviews with 23 Chinese elites from government, influential public figures, and academia. The findings show that Chinese elites place a high value on the bilateral relations and acknowledge the EU as a great global actor. However, the EU's Indo‐Pacific Strategy (EUIPS) has raised several Chinese concerns centered on national territorial sovereignty, global geopolitical dynamics, and regional security and stability. This indicates that the release of the EUIPS has negatively impacted EU–China relations. This paper suggests that the EU could place greater emphasis on its role as a normative power, contributing positively to global development while avoiding political friction and conceptual misunderstandings, thereby preventing unnecessary regional anxiety and tensions.