Thayer Consultancy Background Brief:

ABN # 65 648 097 123

Carlyle A. Thayer
Europe’s Big 3 Weigh In on
South China Sea
September 25, 2020
Could you provide an assessment of the E3's Note Verbale addressed to the United
Nations? See link:
https://rappler.com/world/global-affairs/more-western-powers-join-united-states-
pressuring-china-over-sea-claims
Q1. – What is your assessment of this development?
ANSWER: The E3 – France, Germany and the United Kingdom – are Europe’s major
powers and its three largest economies. France and the UK are permanent members
of the UN Security Council.
This year, France and Germany both issued official government policy papers on the
importance of the Indo-Pacific region to their future prosperity. The United Kingdom,
as it prepares to enter the post-Brexit era, shares a similar geo-strategic outlook.
The E3 countries all agree that they need to work with the countries of the Indo-Pacific
region to maintain a stable rules-based order to ensure their economic prosperity. The
economies of France, Germany and the UK are dependent on secure shipping lanes to
maintain vital supply chains across the Indian Ocean, South China Sea and Pacific
Ocean.
The E3 view the role of international law as a key component of stability in the South
China Sea. The joint E3 Note Verbale to the UN Secretariat set out their legal views on
six issues: (1) the universal application of UNCLOS, (2) freedom of the high seas, (3)
respect for UNCLOS provisions regarding straight baselines around land features, (4)
land building cannot change the maritime entitlements of land features, (5) rejection
of claims based on historic rights and (6) peaceful settlement of disputes.
Q2.- What other actions could the E3 take to protest against China's claims in the
South China Sea?
ANSWER: The E3 can take three main actions to counter China’s claims and actions in
the South China Sea. The E3 can lend diplomatic and political support to ASEAN as a
multilateral institution and to its individual claimant states. The E3 can shape the
European Union’s policies towards the Indo-Pacific Region in general and China in
particular. Finally, France and the UK can assert their rights to freedom of the high
seas by deploying naval vessels to patrol the South China Sea either individually or in
combination with other states.
 2

There has been persistent speculation that France and the UK will deploy their
respective aircraft carriers, Charles de Gaulle and HMS Queen Elizabeth, to the Indian
Ocean and South China Sea.

Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, “Europe’s Big 3 Weigh In on South China Sea,”
Thayer Consultancy Background Brief, September 25, 2020. All background briefs are
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Thayer Consultancy provides political analysis of current regional security issues and
other research support to selected clients. Thayer Consultancy was officially
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