Three Decades on: Still a Capability–Expectations Gap? Pragmatic Expectations towards the EU from Asia in 2020

This paper uses Hill's seminal ‘Capability–Expectations Gap’ framework (CEG) to analyse EU capabilities and expectations of the EU, from the perspectives of four key Asia-Pacific states, China, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea. Intensive analysis of domestic print media shows that all four states have low perceptions of EU capability, particularly EU ability to reach agreement on common action. Indonesia and South Korea also have low overall expectations of the EU. Japan has some expectations of the EU, but mostly related to EU internal and neighbourhood action, confirming findings of previous research identifying a Japanese ‘expectations deficit’ regarding EU external action. China however had many expectations of EU external action, on bilateral relations, but also multilateral governance and management of the international economy. Therefore, from the Chinese perspective a significant EU capability–expectations gap is identified.