Research On The European Union’s Public Diplomacy In ASEAN States

The European Union attaches importance to EU-ASEAN relations in terms of economy,politics,culture,security,people-to-people exchange and so on.It also takes into great account its norms’ diffusion to ASEAN states.The EU’s public diplomacy in ASEAN states aims at fostering ASEAN publics’ understanding of and support for its goals,policies and activities on one hand,and diffusing EU norms on the other hand.The short-term objective of the EU’s public diplomacy in ASEAN states is to help the EU gain economic benefits and the long-term one is to strengthen the EU’s soft power,and thus enhance its global influence.European External Action Service plays a pivotal role in carrying out the EU’s public diplomacy activities.Digital media is the EU’s main public diplomacy instrument.The EU’s public diplomacy activities in ASEAN states are closely connected with economy,education,culture,climate change,and environment protection.Positive response to the EU’s public diplomacy can be found in fields of culture,climate change and environment protection.Limitations of the EU’s public diplomacy in ASEAN states include the difficulty of implementing public diplomacy at a multilateral level,the lack of public diplomacy resources,the negligence of national conditions of ASEAN states and difference between ASEAN and EU norms.While China also pays attention to its public diplomacy in ASEAN states,China can use the EU’s case for reference.