Valérie Niquet　　

-A Few Key Points-

　　● In Asia, contrary to what is going on in Europe since the end of the Cold War one is confronted with a tensed strategic situation:

　　- The situation on the Korean Peninsula

　　- The Sino-Japanese relations

　　● In this framework what could be the role of the EU, a non-nation entity, in Asia:

　　- Military-security role?

　　- Diplomatic and economic role?

　　- EU as a model?

　　● In order to be accepted as a significant entity, to nurture the "strategic partnership between EU and Asia" and to be able to play a role what can EU do:

　　- Fill the "cognitive gap" with Asia and the necessity to better understand each other: the role of the ASEM process

　　- Go "beyond" economic interests and factors

　　- Take into account the "strategic" and security dimension in Asia

　　● In that framework: the illusion of the triangular relations between EU, the US and China (the example of the embargo)

　　● For a forward looking and fruitful relationship: a comparison of the concept of "interest" in EU and China