On a European Parliament recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the changing geopolitical situation in East Asia and the need for closer cooperation with like-minded partners in the region

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DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RECOMMENDATION

to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the changing geopolitical situation in East Asia and the need for closer cooperation with like-minded partners in the region

(2025/2169(INI))

– having regard to Title V of the Treaty on European Union,

– having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 16 September 2021 entitled ‘The EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific’ (JOIN(2021)0024),

– having regard to the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence approved by the Council on 21 March 2022, which underscores the role of partnerships for the Union’s security and resilience, including in the Indo-Pacific,

– having regard to the Security and Defence Partnership between the European Union and Japan of 1 November 2024,

– having regard to the Security and Defence Partnership between the European Union and the Republic of Korea of 4 November 2024,

– having regard to the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Japan, of the other part,

– having regard to the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one part, and the Republic of Korea, on the other part,

– having regard to the joint statement adopted at the 30th EU-Japan summit held on 23 July 2025 in Tokyo,

– having regard to the 42nd EU-Japan inter-parliamentary meeting held on 28 and 29 May 2025 in Tokyo,

– having regard to the joint statement adopted at the 10th EU-Republic of Korea summit held on 22 May 2023 in Seoul,

– having regard to the 23rd EU-Republic of Korea inter-parliamentary meeting held on 18 November 2025 in Brussels,

– having regard to the 4th EUIndoPacific ministerial forum held in Brussels on 20-21 November 2025,

– having regard to its resolution of 7 June 2022 on the EU and the security challenges in the Indo-Pacific,

– having regard to its resolution of 13 December 2023 on EU-Japan relations,

– having regard to its resolution of 21 January 2026 on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2025,

– having regard to its positions and recommendations on Indo-Pacific cooperation, including calls to work with like-minded partners to uphold freedom of navigation and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the East and South China Seas,

– having regard to Rule 121 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A10-0000/2025),

A. whereas East Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific are pivotal to global prosperity and security, hosting vital sea lanes, advanced technology ecosystems, major trade routes, over half the world’s population, and critical supply chains essential to EU economic resilience and geopolitical influence;

B. whereas East Asia’s geopolitical landscape has become increasingly volatile in recent years, with regional power dynamics being increasingly shaped by systemic rivalry, maritime disputes, coercive economic practices and military build-ups that challenge the rules-based international order;

C. whereas the increasingly complex security challenges have a profound impact on both Europe’s and Indo-Pacific’s stability and prosperity, with the two regions’ stability more interlinked than ever; whereas both are directly affected by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the support of third countries that are enabling Russian aggression;

D. whereas the EU’s interests are best protected by deepening practical cooperation with like-minded partners in the region – notably Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Taiwan – and by engaging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a central convening actor;

E. whereas the strategic partnership between the EU and Japan serves as a model for effective bilateral cooperation that strengthens policy-shaping in multilateral fora; whereas the entry into force of the EU–Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) on 1 January 2025, allows for deeper collaboration, including in areas such as security and defence, maritime security, cybersecurity, space, and non-proliferation, alongside tangible joint efforts under the Digital Partnership and Energy Dialogue;

F. whereas the comprehensive relationship between the EU and the RoK, a key Indo-Pacific ally, spans political dialogue, trade and security cooperation; whereas the EU-RoK Security and Defence Partnership provides a structured framework for engagement across all security domains; whereas the RoK plays a pivotal role in regional stability;

G. whereas Taiwan is a key democratic partner for the EU in the East Asia region; whereas the White Paper for European Defence: Readiness 2030 expresses concern over China’s coercion of Taiwan through the intensification of political, economic, military and cyber measures; whereas peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are essential to global security and prosperity;

H. whereas the EU’s presence in the East Asia region is of the utmost importance for fostering peace and stability in the region, for safeguarding economic security and for strengthening the rules-based international order as the security challenges in the region have direct implications for global peace and EU interests;

1. Recommends that the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy:

(a) intensify the EU’s strategic focus, presence, visibility and actions in East Asia with the aim of contributing to joint stability, security, prosperity and sustainable development, underpinned by the promotion of democracy, the rule of law, human rights and international law;

(b) deepen cooperation with like-minded partners in the region, particularly Japan, the RoK and Taiwan, to address common challenges in areas such as cybersecurity, hybrid threats including foreign information manipulation and interference, maritime and space security, non-proliferation, and emerging defence technologies, including advancing drone technology, while strengthening synergies with key partners and regional organisations in full respect of the UN Charter;

(c) further the EU-Japan SPA and the parties’ Security and Defence Partnership; encourage deeper collaboration on defence-industrial matters, including mutual involvement in defence initiatives, progress on a security of information agreement, and further development of the EU-Japan Defence Industry Dialogue to reinforce supply-chain resilience, interoperability and innovation; intensify concrete joint activities under the Digital Partnership and the Energy Dialogues;

(d) advance the implementation of the EU-RoK Security and Defence Partnership, fostering practical cooperation in maritime security, non-proliferation, cybersecurity, counterterrorism and crisis management, building on existing joint operations and exploring further engagement under the EU’s Coordinated Maritime Presences tool; launch a joint EU-RoK defence industry dialogue, and strengthen coordination in multilateral fora to uphold peace, deter provocations and promote denuclearisation;

(e) advance the joint efforts with like-minded partners in East Asia to address Russia’s growing involvement with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), underlining that this involvement exacerbates the tense geopolitical environment on the Korean Peninsula;

(f) urge Russia and the DPRK to fully comply with the UN Charter and the UN Security Council resolutions, and immediately cease all military actions and provocations, and the development of nuclear and missile capabilities on the Korean Peninsula; express grave concern over the DPRK’s malicious cyber activities, including cryptocurrency theft; condemn the DPRK’s contribution to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, including its engagement through the dispatch of military personnel to Ukrainian territories;

(g) establish a dedicated EU–Taiwan cooperation framework focused on semiconductors, cyber resilience, disinformation countermeasures, public health, civil protection and secure connectivity; continue to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in relevant international bodies and technical fora, such as the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; intensify regular exchanges between the EU and its Taiwanese counterparts on relevant security issues;

(h) reaffirm the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait by rejecting any coercive unilateral change of the status quo;

(i) accelerate cooperation by negotiating trilateral or quadrilateral agreements and initiatives on issues of common interest; advance existing EU-Japan and EU-RoK Digital Partnerships with shared commitments on artificial intelligence, semiconductors, next-generation connectivity, quantum computing, data governance, cybersecurity, submarine cables, digital identity and supply-chain resilience;

(j) support people-to-people links via mobility schemes for researchers, engineers and cybersecurity professionals, and twinning between European and East Asian innovation hubs;

2. Looks forward to deepening parliamentary diplomacy and inter-parliamentary exchange on items of mutual interest with the Diet of Japan, the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan;

3. Instructs its President to forward this recommendation to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the governments and parliaments of Japan, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan, and the secretariat and member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

This recommendation responds to the rapidly changing geopolitical situation in East Asia and its volatile security environment, shaped by systemic rivalry, maritime tensions, coercive economic practices and military build-ups that challenge the rules-based international order.

It stresses the growing interdependence between security developments in East Asia and Europe. The region is central to global prosperity and security, as it encompasses vital maritime routes, advanced technological ecosystems, major trade flows and critical supply chains that are essential to the EU’s economic resilience and geopolitical interests.

The report underlines that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, together with the support provided by third countries, has further intensified global security challenges, reinforcing the need for closer coordination among like-minded partners.

It sets out recommendations to strengthen the EU’s strategic engagement in East Asia. It emphasises deeper cooperation with Japan, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan across security and defence, economic resilience and emerging technologies including through existing Security and Defence Partnerships.

The report reaffirms the EU’s commitment to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, rejects any unilateral or coercive change of the status quo, and highlights the importance of parliamentary diplomacy, people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in research and innovation to support long-term strategic cooperation between the EU and like-minded partners in East Asia.

ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that he included in his report input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that he received, in the preparation of the draft report, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:

1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register

2. Representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies

Mission of Japan to the European Union

Embassy of Republic of Korea to the European Union

Taipei Representative Office to the EU and Belgium

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur declares that he has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.