The dragon flies to Balkans: case study of Serbia

Abstract

Over the last two decades, China has been gradually transforming into one of the most prominent geo-economic actors in the international arena. Following the launch of the "17+1" framework in 2012 and the "One Belt, One Road" initiative in 2013, China has been increasing its level of investments in the Western Balkan region, hence alarming the European Community about facilitating regional over-dependence on Chinese resources. Although the EU dwarfs China in terms of investments and trade in the region, China is favouring infrastructural and industrial sectors by providing large credit lines and acquisition loans, thereby facilitating Western Balkan states' dependence on Chinese economic assistance. Coupled with the relative recency of the phenomena and the bilateral government-to-government nature of economic and political relations between China and Western Balkan states, the amount of literature and research on China's economic and political impact on the Western Balkan region dynamics was fairly limited. Hence, this research seeks to fill this gap by adding to the current debate on Chinese economic and political impact by analysing China-sponsored infrastructural and industrial projects in Serbia. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)