ARTICLES

Engaging Southeast Asia: The EU’s role as a Resilient and Reliable Middle Power?

Eugene R.L. Tan|Joanne Lin

The European Union (EU) is consistently seen in Southeast Asia as the preferred and trusted “third party” in hedging against the uncertainties of US-China rivalry and in its reputation for “doing the right thing” in the wider interests of the global community. But it needs to recognise the practical limitations Southeast Asian countries have in complying with its regulations and can do more to support capacity building programmes in the region.