#China
Western Sanctions on Belarus’s Potash Industry Test Beijing-Minsk Partnership
At the beginning of September, the Belarusian news outlet Nasha Niva revealed that due to Western sanctions on Belarusbank, China had not paid another tranche of credit ($103 million) for the construction of the $2 billion…
High Ambitions But No Teeth in China’s Environmental Guidelines for Investing Abroad
As Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) has increased rapidly throughout the years, so has Chinese companies’ environmental footprint around the globe. Energy, mining, and construction companies are the usual suspects, but heavy industries have…
Major Chinese Investment in Serbia Mired By Worker Abuse Controversy
Vietnamese workers employed by the Chinese firm Linglong Tire in Serbia were living in conditions that have understandably shocked onlookers. Accommodated in old, rusty barracks, not outfitted for a chilly Balkan winter, the employees…
Taiwan’s Outreach to CEE and the Search for Something Sustainable
As the EU and some of its member states are increasingly willing to regard Taiwan as a partner and de-hyphenate their relations with Taiwan and China, authorities in Taipei have been equally eager to…
Why the European Parliament’s Support for Taiwan Matters
The past year has seen ties between the EU and Taiwan warm at an unprecedented speed and intensity. Still, should the two sides let momentum subside, the present window of opportunity could very easily…
Voice for CHOICE #12: The 16+1 Format’s Place in China’s Foreign Policy with Jakub Jakóbowski
While it has faded from the popular discourse in recent months, the turn of the year will quickly catapult Central and Eastern European nations to another meeting with the China via the recently downsized…
Navigating the Nexus of Business and Politics in Sino-Czech Relations
With a new coalition agreement on the table, the Czech Republic is on the verge of entering a new political chapter. Despite being rarely addressed in the pre-election period, it may be anticipated that…
Hungary-China Relations: Is it Time for a Change?
This article is part of a series of articles authored by young, aspiring China scholars under the Future CHOICE initiative. In the past decade, the CEE region has often been singled out for cozy ties…
A Coal-Free Future Leaves China’s Engagement in the Balkans Uncertain
There might not be a better moment for the transformation of China’s relationship with the Western Balkans than now. With Xi Jinping’s pledge that China will no longer fund the construction of coal-fired power…
Voice for CHOICE #11: Looking Into Lithuania’s Challenge to China
Lithuania has certainly not been shy about bucking the status quo in terms of relations with Beijing. Whether it be committing to a fight for freedom “from Belarus to Taiwan”, a withdrawal from the…
Evergrande’s Impacts Likely to Loom Only Larger
“We believe that Evergrande has misled investors and represents the worst of Chinese neo-capitalism, and therefore represents a good short opportunity in relation to other exposure in the Chinese capital markets,” Andrew Left wrote…