WHO SUMMONS THE DRAGON? China’s demand-driven influence in Central-Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans A political and economic regional comparison MARIUS GHINCEA CLARA VOLINTIRU IVAN NIKOLOVSKI A project by Bucharest, Romania April, 2021 The report can be accessed at www.global-focus.eu or ordered at
[email protected] +40 721 259 205 Str Dimitrie Orbescu 8, et. 2, ap. 5, Bucharest, Sector 2 GlobalFocus Center is an independent international studies think-tank which produces in-depth research and high quality analysis on foreign policy, security, European affairs, good governance and development. It functions as a platform for cooperation and dialogue among individual experts, NGOs, think-tanks and public institutions from Central and Eastern Europe and Euro-Atlantic partners. A project supported by Layout by Florin Vedeanu DISCLAIMER GlobalFocus Center reserves all rights for the present publication. Parts thereof can only be reproduced or quoted with full attribution to the GlobalFocus Center and mention of publication title and authors' names. Full reproduction is only permitted upon obtaining prior written approval from the GlobalFocus Center. Opinions expressed in the written or electronic publications do not necessarily represent those of the GlobalFocus Center, Black Sea Trust, the German Marshall Fund, Open Information Partnership or their partners. WHO SUMMONS THE DRAGON? Table of Contents Executive Summary 4 Introduction 6 Mapping Cooperation with China in the Region 8 Political cooperation 9 Economic cooperation 13 A Case in Point: the Huawei 5G saga in Central and Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans 18 Conclusions and Policy Recommendations 27 Notes 29 3 China’s demand-driven influence in Central-Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans WHO SUMMONS THE DRAGON? Executive Summary China’s cooperation framework with CEE and Western Balkan countries has attracted the attention of both analysts and decision-makers from Western Europe and the United States.