During his 2017 meeting with the Australian ambassador, President Macron expressed his interest in the Indo-Pacific, amid the competition for influence between the US and China.

"Macron said he was aware of the tight situation in the Indo-Pacific and Australia would not be alone," said Brendan Berne, the Australian ambassador to France in 2017, recalling his first meeting with the President.

Less than 6 months later, Macron visited Australia to announce the grand plans of his Indo-Pacific strategy, with a pledge that the G7 would protect maritime security and the rules of the national order.

France was the first European country to come up with plans to strengthen its role in the Indo-Pacific, after which Germany and the Netherlands followed suit.

The Indo-Pacific concept is often described as a framework to curb Beijing's ambitions, reflected in the strategy of former US President Donald Trump in the region, with the clear goal of preventing China.

However, Europe's strategy is generally geared towards neutral provisions to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.

"Our Indo-Pacific strategy is not purely against China. It is really important to facilitate the development of a multipolar region," said Christophe Penot, Indo-Pacific ambassador

However, with the exception of France, which has 1.8 million citizens on the islands of the Indo-Pacific, has extensive relations with the Indians and Australia, other European countries are aware

"We have always held the same view that China is an economic partner. However, given the scandals of 5G networks, Covid-19 and veteran diplomacy, they are now seen as a security challenge",

"Germany and the Netherlands are aware that the geopolitical balance is shifting to depend on the Indo-Pacific. They want to be part of the change and don't want to sit still," Pejsova added.

Germany's line, adopted by the cabinet in September 2020, outlines the principles of law, order and freedom of navigation, and calls for cooperation with countries "of common value".

"The recent German policy line heralds the convergence of the attitudes and common policies of the United States and Germany in the future, towards the handling of issues in the region," said Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

Meanwhile, the countries of the Indo-Pacific are increasingly "open to" the prospect of a European presence.

India also quietly supported France's joining the Indian Ocean Rim Association in December 2020, making the European nation the first member state to have no territory in the region.

"We welcome other countries' decision to invest in the region. The rise of China is a threat to the peace and security of the West, but the EU has softened them over the past time",

As for ASEAN, despite the member countries' differing relations with China, they are expected to welcome a tougher Europe, after a period of feud with the West over the seemingly Southeast Asia.

Kanti Bajpai, a professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore, said that a more active EU would more likely have a foothold in the regional security architecture.

The most obvious evidence for Europe's pivot towards the Indo-Pacific is military weapons deployment.

"We believe we can figure our own path, avoid confrontation, bring a different voice," said Parly, calling on friends and "goodwill people" to participate in defending the national system.

The UK also plans to bring an aircraft carrier strike group to the region later this year, while Germany's Defense Minister Annegret Kamp-Karrenbauer announced in November 2020 that German naval officers would be on duty.

However, Collin Koh, a defense expert at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, argues that other than France, other European countries are unlikely to exhibit significant "hard power" in the region.

Some question the economic influence of Europe after the rise of China.

"The EU is inherently a major partner and can offer many benefits in terms of security, free trade, infrastructure, and development assistance. The goal of promoting the EU's full participation is extremely part of

Over the past three years, the EU has signed free trade agreements (FTAs) with Singapore and Vietnam, and a crisis management agreement with Vietnam.

China of course is not sitting still when Europe draws its strategy.

In addition, there are still many questions about the impact of the new US President Joe Biden administration on Europe's Indo-Pacific strategy.

Some influential Democratic national security officials, such as Michele Flournoy, have suggested that Europe could focus on security in the North Atlantic, in order to facilitate the United States.

"It's great if America returns, but the world is not the same as four years ago. Europe doesn't want to give up the whole idea of strategic autonomy just because America is back," says Pejsova.