Europe as seen from Asia/ Pacific
How is Europe currently portrayed in the Asia-Pacific media? What images and themes tend to capture the headlines?
It doesn’t take more than a cursory glance (and I took more than a cursory glance) at the regional English-language papers to notice that the primary interest in things European is an economic interest. Here in the Asia-Pacific region, most commentary on the current crisis assumes it is substantially an economic crisis.
This is hardly surprising. The EU and the USA have since 2000 been intensifying efforts to conclude multiple Free trade Agreements (FTAs) in the region. If the European single market collapses, this will be bad news for the Asia-pacific region as Europe is one of two major trading partners and provides a major market for Asian-Pacific goods and raw materials. Of course it is also a trade competitor: Australian mining companies have a vested interest in seeing how coal and oil futures are developed in Europe, for example. Equally important, Europe is a rival customer for global fuel supplies. The decline in industrial activity in the EU reduces demand for carbon fuel supplies and helps drive a downwards spiral in fuel prices, to the benefit of Asian buyers. At the same time, reduced industrial activity in the EU reduces its carbon emissions. In turn this reduces the financial benefit that countries in the global south can derive from selling their surplus carbon emission allowances to the industrialised nations of the north.
“Missionaries from Australia and New Zealand often have to battle to overcome the misconception that Europe is a Christian continent”
Having the EU as a trading partner does not simply impact the economy of the region; social and political conditions are also influenced. Supporters of social democratisation and liberalisation in the Asia-pacific region welcome the fact that the EU and the USA use their FTAs to export the greater liberalisation of the markets. The EU is particularly valued for its commitment to environmental and employment standards. In this respect it is seen as being somewhat different to the USA and is lauded for regulating the power of US-based technology titans and for promoting consumer rights. Agreements concluded by the EU, in the area of healthcare, for example, are seen as prompting the need for reciprocal advances in medical technology in countries such as the Philippines.
At the same time, concerned voices argue that a clear EU identity needs to emerge and overcome political utopia (on the one hand) and political paralysis (on the other hand). Political leaders in the ASEAN bloc still tend to regard the EU as a model for its own global aspirations and Europe’s response to a country such as North Korea is seen as key for the other countries of the region. Europe remains more than just an exporter of high quality TV programming or (currently) a cheap holiday destination!
What is the general view in your region of European Christianity? How do your Christian community(ies) assess European secularity?
Korea remains a major source of missionaries in the region and beyond, including Europe. Despite the gradual decline in the number of Korean missionaries being sent over the last five years or so, the secular countries of Europe remain of concern to some of the churches of the Asia-Pacific, including the many Chinese Christians who have moved to Europe to conduct business and who have formed large and vibrant Chinese church communities. It remains to be seen whether these Asian churches are able to do the necessary work of contextualising their understanding of the Gospel and making it relevant to western, post-Christian citizens. Ironically, Australian Christians with a European heritage are frequently less able to raise support for mission initiatives in Europe. Missionaries from Australia and New Zealand often have to battle to overcome the misconception that Europe is a Christian continent.
The assessment of Europe from the Asia-Pacific region is far from being uniformly dark or depressing. Cautious optimism may be a reflection of the economic fortunes within the region but this can extend outwards and will hopefully continue to reach and bless the shores of Europe.
Darrell Jackson
Darrell Jackson is Senior Lecturer in Missiology at Morling College, Sydney. Since moving to Australia at the beginning of 2012, Darrell has been a keen observer of Asian mission and how Europe is viewed from that part of the world.