The European Parliament on 30 June 2026 adopted a report urging the EU to intensify strategic engagement with like-minded partners in East Asia, particularly Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, in response to rising geopolitical tensions and security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. The report, drafted by rapporteur Adam Bielan (ECR) and adopted by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, calls for deeper cooperation on security, defence, maritime security, cybersecurity, and economic resilience with these partners, while stressing the need to avoid bloc-based confrontation and uphold rules-based multilateralism.
The report highlights existing partnerships, including the EU-Japan Security and Defence Partnership (1 November 2024), the EU-ROK Security and Defence Partnership (4 November 2024), and the EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement (in force 1 January 2025). It notes that Japan has provided over USD 20 billion in assistance to Ukraine since 2022 and that both Japan and South Korea are key donors. The report also welcomes Japan joining Horizon Europe (22 December 2025) and South Korea joining (1 January 2025).
Emphasising the strategic importance of Taiwan Strait stability, the report notes that Taiwan produces around 50% of global semiconductors. It recommends enhanced trilateral coordination between the EU, Japan, and South Korea, as well as structured cooperation with Taiwan on clean technology and supply chains. The Parliament urges the EU to elevate these partnerships to counter authoritarian influence, secure supply chains, and uphold stability in the Indo-Pacific, while avoiding decoupling from China.