#infrastructure
Western Balkans’ Economic Cooperation with China: Between “Positive” Conditionality and Economic Coercion
While China has been using economic pressure to make countries around the world refrain from stepping over some of its “red lines”, the Western Balkan region serves as an example of a rather opposite…
China’s LOGINK: Securing Maritime Data in European Ports
A Chinese logistics software has quietly extended into ports in Asia and Europe. Its expansion is now in the spotlight due to the EU’s new port strategy and US ban.
Local Pushback Thwarts China’s Ambitions in Madagascar
Despite that Madagascar is among the most impoverished countries in the world struggling with non-functioning institutions and omnipresent corruption, and clearly needs financial support for its development, it seems to be immune to Chinese proposals for huge infrastructural projects. However, Chinese customers’ demands fuel illegal activities on the island detrimental to the ecosystem.
Working Breakfast: Chinese Influence in the Western Balkans
In October, the CHOICE project, with the support of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, hosted a closed working breakfast in Prague with CHOICE Visiting Fellow and Program Coordinator of the Foundation BFPE for…
Is the EU Finally Headed Towards a Ban on Huawei?
While many countries in the Western world have decisively banned Chinese telecom equipment company Huawei from their 5G networks due to national security concerns, the EU has lacked the consensus for such a policy, in part due to Huawei’s and China’s strong relationships within the bloc. However, recent announcements from Germany, the biggest holdout, and top EU brass suggest that momentum within the EU is growing for a ban on Huawei.
Italy and the BRI: A Love Story That Never Started
To renew, or not to renew, that is the question.
The European Foreign Subsidies Regulation: Effective Means of Protecting Strategic Infrastructure or an Investment Impediment?
The European policy discourse is shifting away from economic openness to emphasizing security concerns in the context of Chinese stakes in strategic infrastructure. The European Foreign Subsidies Regulation is another piece of the puzzle that could change the balance of power between the EU institutions and national governments. While the mechanism promises to bring a more cohesive handling of Chinese bids for public contracts and M&A transactions buttressed by subsidies, it could also spark tensions within the EU.
China Still Ambivalent About the Middle Corridor
Despite the oft-touted momentum behind the Eurasian Middle Corridor circumventing Russia, China still appears not be fully behind the project beset by geopolitical challenges and infrastructure hurdles.
Voice for CHOICE #23: Discussing China’s Diplomacy Toward the Global South with Joshua Eisenman
China has positioned itself as a member of the Global South family and has poured billions of dollars into building infrastructure in Africa and Southeast Asia to increase its clout in these regions and…
Chinese Stakes in European Ports: Geopolitical Threat or Mere Business Venture?
Chinese investments in European ports have sparked fears and a debate over the obligations of business to deal with matters of national security. Understanding the economic and political importance of ports, and the actors involved in Chinese investments, can help to evaluate their economic and political impacts in a way that is strategically minded but does not shut the door for business.
Reaching the New Levels of Sino-Serbian Relations
While China’s presence in Central and Eastern Europe has been affected by the crisis of the erstwhile “17+1” format after the withdrawal of the Baltic countries, Beijing still has committed partners in the region.
Open RAN – Not Solving the “5G China Challenge”
The high market share of Chinese technology giant Huawei in 5G infrastructure has made observers hope that a technological disaggregation of 5G’s Radio Access Network (RAN) could solve geopolitical challenges posed by China. While technologically promising, this approach, known as Open RAN, neither reduces reliance on China nor necessarily offers a higher degree of network security.