Nicola Casarini

Istituto Affari Internazionali (Rome) and Wilson Center (Washington DC)

Europe has stepped up its engagement with Taiwan to a level unthinkable only a few years ago – a dynamic which is welcomed in Washington but risks triggering commercial reprisals from Beijing. European support for Taiwan is important as the number of countries that formally recognise the island has decreased significantly over the past years, raisi...

This study describes the tactics used by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to influence Italy and advance Beijing’s narrative, how local actors have responded to this offensive, and the implications of these dynamics for Italy’s national security and that of its Euro-Atlantic allies. Much of China’s influence efforts in the country are carried out...

The announcement of the China-EU Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) at the end of December 2020 triggered an intense debate. The deal has found many supporters inside Europe and in China—but also opposition coming from some European quarters and the USA. It is thus crucial to examine the pros and cons of CAI—an accord that if ratified woul...

The European Union (EU), China, and the United States (US) are the three major powers in the world today, and the three have a special relationship of cooperation and competition. The Biden administration has reached out to European allies to create a common front to counter Beijing. While the EU’s China policy has hardened in recent times and incr...

The Routledge Handbook of Europe–Korea Relations provides a comprehensive overview of the changing dynamics in relations between Europe and Korea, provided by leading experts in the field. Informed by high-quality academic research and key trilateral data and statistics, this book brings scope, balance, and depth, with wide-ranging coverage examini...

This paper argues in favour of a EU strategy towards China developed in an autonomous way from Washington-while at the same time promoting US-EU dialogue on Beijing. Following the arrival of Joe Biden in the White House, a structured dialogue on China has been established and transatlantic relations have improved, while Sino-European relations are...

Cooperation in higher education and research is a positive aspect of the broader Italy-China relationship as it contributes to the advancement of the scientific and cultural environment in both countries. China has invested considerable sums to promote cooperation and exchanges with the Italian academy, including through the establishment of a doze...

Non-proliferation has been on the international agenda for decades. Recognising the importance of the problem, both the EU and Asian countries—except North Korea—have collaborated on how to prevent proliferation, not just of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) like nuclear weapons, but also of their delivery vehicles and other sensitive technologies....

Europe has a strategic interest in a peaceful environment in and around the South China Sea. A large part of Europe’s global trade passes through the Sea’s international waters. China’s militarization of the South China Sea has been a wakeup call for the EU and its member states which have stepped up their involvement in the area. The European Unio...

This book provides an original examination of current European Union (EU)–Republic of Korea (ROK) security relations. It brings together analysis and original material on relations in the fields of Nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, Cybersecurity and data-protection, Space policy and technology, and Preventive diplomacy and crisis managemen...

This chapter places the evolution of EU–Korea security relations within the broader context of evolving security dynamics in East Asia and US policy in the area. It begins by examining the US’ approach to the region, including an assessment of Trump’s transactional foreign policy toward South and North Korea. The subsequent section presents the con...

China’s growing power and assertiveness towards its smaller and weaker neighbours has been a wakeup call for the European Union and its member states which, as a result, have stepped up their involvement in East Asia. EU security policy in the region shows many elements of alignment with the United States, but also differences. In North East Asia,...

Italy is increasingly torn between the traditional transatalntic alliance and the pull of the Chinese market. This chapter explain why - and how - this is happening.

Should the EU enforce a containment policy towards the People’s Republic of China (PRC – or simply China), joining efforts undertaken by US President Donald Trump, who has unleashed a trade and technological war against Beijing with the aim of permanently subordinating the Asian giant to the West? Or should the EU continue its engagement policy tow...

This paper examines the current state of play in EU-China relations and the future prospects for them. It proposes a progressive framework to be applied to a select list of issues of strategic importance for the next five years. Built around three key words-Defend, Engage, Maximise-the progressive agenda recommends the following: (i) Defend: Europe...

The upheaval of the international order as we knew it is pushing the EU and Japan to take on more responsibilities in global issues, including in unsolved affairs such as the denuclearisation and peace process in the Korean peninsula and the South China Sea disputes. Moreover, the EU and Japan stand together also in opposition to China, which const...

To adress growing Sino-American tensions, this Commentry argues that the EU should keep equidistance vis-à-vis the US and China and, depending on the issue, temporarily align with the positions of either one or the other so as to defend the norms and principles on which the liberal international order, including the multilateral trading system, dep...

Italy has been the first G7 nation to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative, China’s massive infrastructure and connectivity project. Through the Memorandum, Italy seeks more market access in China for Italian companies and “Made in Italy” products, as well as more Chinese investments in Italy under the Initiative...

Italy has adopted a “constructive” approach to China that denounces violations of democracy, human dignity, human rights, freedom, equality and the rule of law inside China without jeopardising its economic ties with the Asian giant. Successive Italian governments have tended to pay particular attention to international political values such as mul...

This chapter addresses non-proliferation as an agenda item in EU–Japan cooperation. For both sides, how to prevent proliferation, not just of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) like nuclear weapons, but also of their delivery vehicles and other sensitive technologies, has always been a problem of high priority. The chapter examines the levels of thr...

Beijing’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea is putting Europe’s economic interests in the area at risk. More than one third of Europe’s external trade takes place with the Indo-Pacific region and any escalation of tensions in this area will undoubtedly have a direct impact on Europe. In this context – and should China continue to challen...

The regional power shift in the Indo-Pacific poses opportunities and threats to Australia and the European Union. This raises questions as to whether and how the two partners can foster bilateral cooperation in the region, advancing their strategic interests while promoting their values. This Commentary first assesses the main tenets of Australia’s...

This article examines the distinctive approach developed by the EU towards East Asia’s two main security challenges, namely: (i) North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear programmes; (ii) China’s growing assertiveness in the East and South China Sea. It argues that Europe has succeeded — albeit inadvertently and without a clear strategy — in enga...

Review article of 5 books dealing with the emergence of a new monetary order

This article examines the distinctive approach developed by the EU towards North Korea and, more generally, Northeast Asia. It argues that Europe has succeeded – albeit inadvertently and without a clear strategy – to engage the region in a comprehensive way, i.e. one that includes both harsher sanctions vis-a-vis the DPRK as well as support for reg...

Relations between the European Union (EU) and India have been growing in quantity and quality in the last two decades. Alongside the economic dimension, the political and security elements of the relationship have emerged as the most promising area for further collaboration between the two sides. This volume brings together analysis and recommendat...

This book contributes to current debates on Northeast Asia’s evolving security dynamics, including the role of the EU in promoting regional cooperation and trust building. The chapters have been written by a select group of European and Korean experts with the aim of shedding light on some of the initiatives being developed in Northeast Asia to pro...

As Trump alienates his Western allies, and the United Kingdom begins its departure from the EU, China has been quietly reaching out to Western nations. Both Beijing and Brussels hope to move ahead with economic globalization, and during the annual EU-China Summit held in Brussels on June 1–2, 2017 the two sides forged a new green alliance to combat...

Northeast Asia is today one of the world’s most dynamic economic areas, contributing almost half of global growth. The region has reached a level of economic interdependence similar, if not superior, to that of Europe. However, the worsening political climate in China, Japan and South Korea continues to hinder deeper cooperation and the elimination...

This article explains how Chinese territorial and maritime claims over large swaths of the South China Sea are based not only on economic and security considerations, but also on national identity making and the renewal of China’s past grandeur, which today is taking the form of President Xi Jinping’s vision of the “China dream” (Zhōngguó mèng). Th...

Maritime security is of increasing importance for the EU and India. The two partners are affected by both traditional and non-conventional security challenges, including piracy, human and drug trafficking and maritime terrorism. This led the EU to launch Operation Atalanta and the Indian Navy to carry out anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden. Ho...

Located at the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, which is the end-point of China’s 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Italy is considered by Chinese leaders to be an important piece in the implementation of OBOR. Italian ports and rail connections to the markets in Central, Eastern and Northern Europe have become the focus of attention for the Italian...

The Belt and Road, unveiled by President Xi Jinping in late 2013, is China’s most ambitious geo-economic and foreign policy initiative in decades, combining a land-based Silk Road Economic Belt and a sea-based 21st Century Maritime Silk Road which connect China to Europe. With this grandiose initiative, Beijing seeks to tackle industrial overcapaci...

Over the past decade, the EU and China have expanded their relations beyond a focus on economic and trade issues to the sphere of security. Taking a broad definition of security, a multidisciplinary approach, and a comparative perspective (including scholars from both Europe and China), this book provides an in-depth analysis of the extent to which...

Beijing is rolling out an ambitious plan to create trade routes that stretch to the heart of Europe. This will bring much-needed investment to the countries in its path, but threatens to change the balance of power between rising Asia and the Old Continent.

Chinese leaders tend to think strategically about Europe. By following the process of European integration closely in the last decades, they have succeeded in identifying at different historical junctures those European integration initiatives that would serve China’s national security and foreign policy objectives. EU policymakers, instead, appear...

This chapter examines the role of think tanks in China. It is divided in four parts; (i) International Relations and Foreign Policy Think Tanks; (ii) Defence-Related and Military Think Tanks; (iii) Economic and Political-Economy Think Tanks; (iv) Research Institutes at Top Chinese Universities.

North-East Asia has become one of the key engines of world economic growth. Yet the political climate among the countries of the region has worsened lately – due to historical, as well as territorial disputes. This situation has led regional leaders to propose various plans for addressing what Republic of Korea (ROK) President Park Geun-hye has cal...

Xi Jinping’s recent stopover in Brussels added further substance and meaning to the upgrade of EU-China relations which began at the last bilateral summit in November 2013. Moreover, his decision to visit the EU institutions as part of a broader mission to Europe is a clear recognition of the Union’s growing political importance for China. While st...

The year 2003 was one of many events for the European Union – both internal and external. Among them was the beginning of a more structured relationship with Beijing. The establishment of the EU-China ‘strategic partnership’ on 30 October 2003 came at a time of converging priorities between the two actors. It also coincided with one of the worst cr...

The US ‘pivot’ – or rebalancing – towards Asia has generated debate in Europe not only about the alleged eastwards shift of American political and military focus, but also about whether (and to what extent) the EU, too, should upgrade its presence in the region. There is a widespread belief that the EU lacks the necessary capabilities – as well as...

This book examines and assesses EU policy towards China in the following fields: trade, investment, the euro and global economic governance, environment and resources, defence and security, politics, and the regional context. The report concludes that China represents a great opportunity but also a challenge for the EU. China is poised to become th...

In the last two decades EU-Asia security relations (both in traditional and non-traditional issues) have grown in quantity and quality. Europe and Asia have been able to push forward their security relations under the protective military umbrella of the US. This chapter examines three main areas of EU-Asia cooperation: (i) economic and financial se...

China is possibly the EU’s most ominous economic and trade challenge. At the same time, Beijing represents a formidable opportunity for many European companies as well as for EU aspirations to emerge as a global actor. The country continues to be viewed with suspicion across Europe due to the non-democratic nature of the Chinese regime, raising...

This chapter looks at the key features of the EU-China strategic partnership and examines whether – and how – the current economic crisis has made the working relationship weaker or stronger. The establishment of the EU-China partnership in 2003 came at a time of converging priorities between the two partners. The EU and China could build on a s...

EU foreign policy in the Asia Pacific is stepping up a gear. The visit of Catherine Ashton to Asia in July 2012, which included her meeting with Chinese leaders, her subsequent participation – for the first time – in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Phnom Penh and the issuing of the joint EU-US statement on the Asia Pacific, clearly indicate the i...

China is set to become the world’s largest economy. As the country becomes richer, it is likely to become more influential in foreign and military affairs. This raises the question as to the impact that an increasingly ascendant China would have on the rest of the world, including whether the West will continue to maintain the supremacy that it has...

The sovereign debt crisis and the economic predicament of the West elicit mixed feelings and attitudes in China. On the one hand, the spiralling debt and worsening market conditions of the US and the eurozone are affecting China’s export-driven economy signifi cantly; on the other, the crisis in the West provides Beijing with the opportunity to rai...

An examination of EU–China Relations in the areas of Space and Defence Technology

East Asia is home to some of the most important trading partners of the Union. China is foremost among these, ranking second only to the US – in 2009, EU-China trade totalled a massive €296 billion – while the EU is China’s most important trading partner. Japan is the sixth-largest trade partner of the EU – in 2009, EU-Japan trade was almost €92 bi...

Science and technology have become, over the years, one of the central issues for bilateral cooperation between China and the European Union (EU). Chinese leaders have always emphasized that enhancing S&T cooperation with developed nations is a crucial factor for sustaining the country's modernisation process. Today, Europe is China's most importan...

Aspenia, n. 49-50, 2010, pp. 105-112

Relations between the European Union and China have grown at a sustained pace across the board in recent times, transforming the relationship from one of previous neglect into a matter of global strategic significance. This book offers an examination of the evolution of contemporary EU-China relations in the economic, technological and high politic...

Relations between the European Union (EU) and China have grown at a sustained pace across the board in recent times, transforming the relationship from one of previous neglect into a matter of global strategic significance. This book offers an examination of the evolution of contemporary EU—China relations in the economic, technological, and high p...

Relations between the European Union (EU) and China have grown at a sustained pace across the board in recent times, transforming the relationship from one of previous neglect into a matter of global strategic significance. This book offers an examination of the evolution of contemporary EU—China relations in the economic, technological, and high p...

Relations between the European Union (EU) and China have grown at a sustained pace across the board in recent times, transforming the relationship from one of previous neglect into a matter of global strategic significance. This book offers an examination of the evolution of contemporary EU—China relations in the economic, technological, and high p...

Relations between the European Union (EU) and China have grown at a sustained pace across the board in recent times, transforming the relationship from one of previous neglect into a matter of global strategic significance. This book offers an examination of the evolution of contemporary EU—China relations in the economic, technological, and high p...

Relations between the European Union (EU) and China have grown at a sustained pace across the board in recent times, transforming the relationship from one of previous neglect into a matter of global strategic significance. This book offers an examination of the evolution of contemporary EU—China relations in the economic, technological, and high p...

Relations between the European Union (EU) and China have grown at a sustained pace across the board in recent times, transforming the relationship from one of previous neglect into a matter of global strategic significance. This book offers an examination of the evolution of contemporary EU—China relations in the economic, technological, and high p...

Relations between the European Union (EU) and China have grown at a sustained pace across the board in recent times, transforming the relationship from one of previous neglect into a matter of global strategic significance. This book offers an examination of the evolution of contemporary EU—China relations in the economic, technological, and high p...

Relations between the European Union (EU) and China have grown at a sustained pace across the board in recent times, transforming the relationship from one of previous neglect into a matter of global strategic significance. This book offers an examination of the evolution of contemporary EU—China relations in the economic, technological, and high p...

Relations between the European Union (EU) and China have grown at a sustained pace across the board in recent times, transforming the relationship from one of previous neglect into a matter of global strategic significance. This book offers an examination of the evolution of contemporary EU—China relations in the economic, technological, and high p...

There has been a profound shift eastward in global power. The International Spectator is devoting this special issue to examining some of the region’s current trends. Two main themes run through the issue. The first is US-China relations and the question of China’s growing military expenditure. China’s rise has provided the neighbouring countries w...

This article analyzes the main themes and initiatives that have characterized the development of the Asia policy of the European Union (EU) in the post-Cold War period. It argues that the current role and presence of the EU in Asia goes well beyond trade relations to include a security dimension which has political and strategic implications for th...

European Foreign Policy in an Evolving International System provides the reader with an updated assessment of European Foreign Policy fifteen years after Maastricht. The contributions analyze the level of policy convergence achieved by EU member states in crucial areas and regions of the world.

Asia accounts today for nearly 60 per cent of world population, for more than one-third of world output and almost 50 per cent of economic growth since 2000. Its share of global trade has increased from 11 per cent to 26 per cent between 1960 and 2005. Since the early 1990s Asian countries have become increasingly significant for Europe’s welfare....

The Chinese arms embargo issue has gone beyond Sino-European bilateral relations to become a matter of significance – and concern – for East Asian and US policymakers. Thus, an eventual solution depends not only on the interplay between EU and Chinese policymakers’ interests and considerations, but is now interconnected with China's domestic develo...

The article surveys the development of Europe-China relations over the last 30 years. It focuses on the main themes that have characterized the relationship. It gives due attention to the role played by the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) in Europe-China relations, both during the Cold War period and after accession to the EU in 2004...

PhD thesis - London School of Economics and Political Science - Department of International Relations

This study traces the evolution of EU-China relations over the past three decades.