EU Strategic Partnership and Rivalry: Uncovered

The study explores how the terms “systemic rival” and “strategic partner” are constructed in the EU political discourse through the examples of China and Vietnam. Through applying the theory of constructivism in this case study paired with a qualitative content analysis. It is uncovered that strategic partnership depends on the capability a state shows for reform and which promises it makes and how its aligns itself with the international rules-based order. Vietnam has shown dramatic improvements on its own human rights legislation and especially its judicial system throughout the 30 years of EU-Vietnam relations. For the EU these reforms and even merely the promise to reform itself is crucial; it's what keeps the EU deeply engaged and interested in continuing the relationship. For China it's a bit more complicated. The EU and China have an acknowledged systemic rivalry which is built on a sharp disagreement. China has a state-centric world view where matters such as human rights are internal affairs that no one but them can meddle in. Whereas the EU as a liberal supranational organisation believes that human rights stand above national legislation still both parties have signed the UN charter and have international obligations that must be met.