Abstract
China and the European Union (EU) are the world’s first and third biggest energy consumers today. Owing to the physical distance and the fact that both China and the EU are energy-importers, there has thus far been a relative lack of interaction in the energy field. Few existing studies of China–EU relations focus on energy issues. While China became the world’s biggest energy consumer, largest carbon-emitter as well as largest investor in renewable energy in 2011, the EU has been facing challenges in securing its energy supply because of domestic antagonism towards nuclear power and a worsening relationship with Russia. Adding also the role of energy-related carbon emissions in the international climate change negotiations, energy became a crucial area for cooperation for world players like China and the EU. This article examines the China–EU energy interaction, especially the perceptions of the EU’s role. The analysis is based on primary empirical data from three research projects. It finds that China has yet to view the EU as a prominent global energy player or even a major energy partner. Instead of passively receiving norms sent by the EU in the energy dialogues, this article argues that China has been a selective norm-taker.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
Chinese President Xi Jinping introduces this concept in November 2012, when he started his presidency. Xi’s China Dream includes the revival of Chinese nation in international arena, a prosperous Chinese economy and a happy Chinese population (Chinese government, 2014a, 2014b).
Chinese President Xi introduces this concept in 2013 in the hope to manage its relations with international great powers, especially with the United States. Xi elaborated the concept into three points: no conflict and confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, 2013).
For more information, see official website of the project (National Centre for Research on Europe).
For more information, see official website of the project (Technische Universität Darmstadt).
For more information, see official website of the project (Chinese Policy Institute of University of Nottingham).
For more information, see official website of the project (Institute of European Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) and Shambaugh et al (2008).
This word count is of the Chinese version. While an A4-size page can contain around 500 English words, it can contain around 700 Chinese words.
References
Administrative Centre for China’s Agenda 21 (1994) China’s Agenda 21, http://www.acca21.org.cn/cca21pa.html, accessed 1 June 2013.
Chaban, N. and Holland, M. (eds.) (2013) Lisbon and the changing external perceptions of the EU: Visions from the Asia-Pacific. Baltic Journal of European Studies 3(3): 3–206.
Chaban, N. and Holland, M. (eds.) (2014) Communicating Europe in the Times of Crisis: External Perceptions of the European Union. Hampshire: Palgrave MacMillan.
Chinese government (2003) China’s EU policy paper, http://wza.fmprc.gov.cn/yxsm/index.php?m=proxy&a=show&q_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fmprc.gov.cn%2Fmfa_eng%2Fwjb_663304%2Fzzjg_663340%2Fxos_664404%2Fdqzzywt_664812%2F.%2Ft27708.shtml, accessed 1 December 2013.
Chinese government (2014a) China’s second EU policy paper: Deepen the China-EU Comprehensive strategic partnership for mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjdt_665385/wjzcs/t1143406.shtml, accessed 25 September 2014.
Chinese government (2014b) 以习近平为总书记的党中央十八大以来治国理政纪实, 9 January, http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2014-01/09/content_2562869.htm, accessed 4 March 2014.
Economy E.C (2010) The game changer: Coping with China’s foreign policy revolution. Foreign Affairs 89(6): 142–152.
European Commission (1998) Building a Comprehensive Partnership with China. Brussels, Belgium181.
European Commission (2001) EU Strategy Towards China: Implementation of the 1998 Communication and Future Steps for a More Effective EU Policy. Brussels265.
Gaens, B., Jokela, J. and Mattlin, M. (2012) The EU’s Asia: Renegotiating boundaries, renegotiating norms. Asia Europe Journal 10(2): 91–97.
Holland, M. and Chaban, N. (eds.) (2010) Reflections from Asia and Europe: How do we perceive one another? Asia Europe Journal 8(2): 123–255.
Holland, M., Ryan, P., Nowak, A. and Chaban, N. (eds.) (2007) The EU Through the Eyes of Asia: Media, Public and Elite Perceptions in China, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Thailand. Singapore; Warsaw, Poland: University of Warsaw.
Holslag, J. (2010) The normative disconnect between Europe and the emerging powers. Asia Paper of Brussels Institute of Contemporary China Studies 5(4): 1–21.
Huang, C. (2011) Reluctant superpower? South China Morning Post 6 December 2011, p. 4.
Information Office of the State Council of China (2007) China’s energy conditions and policies, www.scio.gov.cn/zfbps/ndhf/2007/Document/307873/307873.htm, accessed 4 March 2013.
Information Office of the State Council of China (2012) China's Energy Policy 2012, www.scio.gov.cn/zfbps/ndhf/2012/Document/1233788/1233788.htm, accessed 4 March 2013.
Manners, I. (2002) Normative power Europe: A contradiction in terms? Journal of Common Market Studies 40(2): 235–258.
Mattlin, M. (2012) Dead on arrival: Normative EU policy towards China. Asia Europe Journal 10(2): 181–198.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China (2013) 开启中国外交新征程—王毅外长在“新起点、新理念、新实践—2013中国与世界”研讨会上的演讲, 16 December, http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_chn/zyxw_602251/t1109156.shtml, accessed 4 March 2014.
People’s Daily official website (2013) Introduction, http://www.people.com.cn/GB/50142/104580/index.html, accessed 19 December 2014.
Rapoza, K. (2014) China’s foreign assets more than half its GDP Forbes, Investing, 4 July, http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2014/04/07/chinas-foreign-assets-more-than-half-its-gdp/, accessed 19 December 2014.
Shambaugh, D., Sandschneider, E. and Zhou, H. (eds) (2008) China–Europe Relations: Perceptions, Policies and Prospects. London: Routledge.
State Council of China (2013) 12th five-year plan on energy development, http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2013-01/23/content_2318554.htm, accessed 7 December 2014.
Zha, D. and Lai, S. (2015) “EU-China energy governance: What lessons to be drawn?”, In: M. Knodt, N. Piefer and F. Muller (eds.) Challenges of European External Energy Governance with Emerging Powers. Surrey: Ashgate, pp. 129–148.
Acknowledgements
The research funded reported in this article is part of a larger project – a Jean Monnet Multilateral Research Group (with Natalia Chaban of the University of Canterbury in the lead, and as partners Michèle Knodt of the Technische Universität Darmstadt and Amy Verdun of the University of Victoria). Project title: ‘External Images of the EU’ (EXIE). The group is grateful for financial support from the European Commission during the 2-year project 2012–2014. The authors thank the guest editors of this special issue, and the two anonymous reviewers of the journal, for constructive criticism and suggestions on the earlier drafts.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Suetyi, L., Zhiqin, S. How China views the EU in global energy governance: A norm exporter, a partner or an outsider?. Comp Eur Polit 15, 80–98 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1057/cep.2016.14
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/cep.2016.14