China hit Europe through Serbia

Despite Beijing's interest, China's association with the European Union has experienced a series of fractures in 2018. In December, the strongest European economy, Germany, made investment even more difficult for China, establishing a law against purchases of German companies from foreign countries.

The popular magazine “The Diplomat” has written about the way China targets the European market, and says it has found it through the road to Serbia, broadcast Koha.net.

“in the Balkans, not too far EU, China is enjoying another experience. A non-EU member, Serbia, claims to be one of China's best friends in Europe. Beijing has been involved in numerous projects in the Balkans, even though the most well-known one, the Belgrade-Budapest railway, has failed to build by now”, has written “Thkop Diplomat” mentions turbulent relations between China and Yugoslavia from 1949 onward.

“Josip Broz Tito, leader of communist Yugoslavia, wanted to be associated with the People's Republic of China, but had returned from Mao Zadong because of Tito's separation with Stalin. Although Yugoslavia began to recognize the People's Republic of China in 1949, Tito expected him to visit Beijing for the first time, writes the paper.

The appeal of Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha's relations with China exploited Serbia, which became her partner.

The relations continued to be good since the 1980s and 1990s when Slobodan Milosevic came to the army. After fighting for the breakup of Yugoslavia, Milosevic visited China as Serbian president in 1997 and received diplomatic support from China after the Dayton “The Diplomat” agreement.

This is seen as very important for China's relations with Serbia. Beijing supported Belgrade's views on Kosovo. This reflected her situation with Taiwan or even Hong Kong.

This paper considers that NATO's 1999 bombing intervention was another significant moment that strengthened Serbia's relations with China, which had voiced criticism when three Chinese people had died of bombing attacks in Belgrade.

Serbia's reports with China, according to the “The Diplomat”, have been strengthened because of attitudes Serbia has towards Kosovo. In addition to Kosovo, the 2008 economic crisis prompted Serbia to embrace China.

You can read the complete article in: Serbia: China's Open Door to the Balkans