China Goes Granular: Beijing’s Multi-Level Approach to the Western Balkans
This article was originally published by the European Council on Foreign Relations and is republished here with the permission of the authors.
The morning of September 9 began mundanely enough in Skopje, the capital...
Serbia’s Balancing Act on China
In early September, the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić sat next to his US counterpart Donald Trump and Kosovo’s Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti in the Oval Office to announce the restoration of economic ties with Kosovo. Although...
China, Pandemic and the Western Balkans – Lessons for the EU?
When announcing the state of emergency in Serbia on March 15 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić declared the notion of European solidarity non-existent, “a fairy tale on a paper”, while praising China...
Learn the Rules to Master the Game: Chinese Infrastructure Investments in the Balkans
With activities ranging from hastily assembled initiatives to holistic market assessments, Chinese companies are getting their foot in the door to the Balkans-with clear intentions of leaving a lasting footprint in the region’s infrastructure market. However, it...
In Serbia, the Chinese Trojan Horse Tactic Works – For Now
Speaking in July 2018, then European Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hanh referred to Balkan countries that were the recipients of Chinese infrastructure financing, like Serbia and Montenegro, as China’s potential Trojan horses among future EU members. The...
A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed – Belgrade Leans Closer to Beijing...
As Serbia fights the coronavirus outbreak it is once again looking to China for support. Coupled with the indignation with the EU’s response, Serbia seems to be moving even closer to Beijing’s orbit. However, none of the...
Facing the China Challenge in the Balkans
For years, concerns in Brussels and Western European capitals about the security of southeastern Europe have centered on the threat posed by Putin’s Russia. But behind these fears the question of China looms large.
Russia’s...
Securing the Sino-Serbian Partnership
If enthusiasm on both sides is any indication, the increasing defence relationship between China and Serbia can be expected the grow even closer in the future.
In recent years Sino-Serbian ties have by some accounts flourished...
Serbia: China’s Open Door to the Balkans
China is playing an increasingly active role in Serbia, part of its expansion in Central and Eastern Europe.
Despite a renewed interest on Beijing’s part, China’s relationship with the European Union encountered...
