Chinese Connect with Serbia & EU
Xi Jinping, the secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for the first time in 5 yrs has stepped out of own nation to visit 3 European nations namely France, Serbia and Hungary. In the light of falling American and European trade and cooperation with China, Xi intends to bolster them thru’ bilateral cooperation. However, Russia-Ukraine war is casting its long shadows in Sino-EU relationship. Europe wants Xi to end any military assistance to Russia fully knowing that the two have signed an MoU for unlimited cooperation before the start of the war. It is universal truth that in today’s world of global economy, no nation can remain isolated from the troubled economy elsewhere (esp the major economies) however distant may that be. However, there has been one exception in it. Chinese virus caused a major upset in most if not all nations in the world, but China remained isolated from its related consequences and repercussions.
Xi has completed his France visit amidst mixed response and now he is heading to Serbia, a former State of communist USSR. This European nation has been facing many discriminations by European Union. The territorial integrity of Serbia in Kosovo is under serious Islamic threat amounting to on-going genocide but the western blocs of EU nations as well as America are mum. The reasons are varied but unwavering (read “Kosovo being engulfed by Islamic Cancer”, https://thecounterviews.in/articles/christian-kosovo-being-engulfed-by-islamic-cancer/).
Serbia as nation and the Serb people have been amazing in past before the breaking of the USSR. Presently this nation is facing serious apathy by the major economy of the world. As mentioned, its territorial integrity is being threatened and its leadership is often facing intimidation by the western powers and NATO alike. This is where Chinese assistance and support could be a major boost. As such Serbia is Chinas Free-trade partner incurring big investments. China is also building a high-speed rail between Belgrade and Budapest under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The cheap Chinese technologies of solar panels and Li-Ion batteries have set up several manufacturing units. In short, China has substantial financial and infrastructure stakes in these two nations.
Besides trade and economic interests, there is one big lesson that Serbia could learn from the Chinese in controlling/containing the threat of Islamic radicalism and separatism in its territories of Kosovo and making inroad into the mainland. China is the only nation in the world that has controlled Islamic radicalism, extremism, terrorism and separatism in its territory of Xinjiang and the best part is that none of the sponsor nations of Islamic radicalism has frowned or taken on China for its xenophobic stance against radical Islam. In fact, Chinese model of Islam has been recommended for the world non-Muslim states to follow (read “World must adopt the Chinese model of Islam”, https://thecounterviews.in/articles/world-must-adopt-chinese-model-of-islam/). Xi can very much give this mantra to Serbia. Xi’s this visit also coincides with 25 yr of NATO bombing of Chinese embassy in Belgrade in which 3 Chinese were killed. NATO’s actions came following Albanian Islamists’ incursions and capture of Serbian cultural monuments forcing them to flee. It is other matter though that China avoids highlighting its unfamiliar Xinjiang policies to contain radical Islam for the sake of having positive influence in the major players among Islamic nations. Despite the cries of Muslims in Xinjiang, radical nations like Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi and Turkey are keeping mum. This is a big achievement.
China has very few natural allies the world over. It has generated animosity with most of its neighbors owing to its expansionist policies (read “Russian and Chinese aggressions against neighbors…and India”, https://thecounterviews.in/articles/russian-and-chinese-aggressions-against-neighbours-and-india/). It has already grabbed part of Mongolia, Tibet, Xinjiang, India (Aksai Chin) and Nepal; and has set eyes on Taiwan, Bhutan (Doklam) and parts of Himalayan India (Ladakh & Arunachal) and many other state territories of Vietnam, Philippines and others as given in the text box below:-
Most nations see China as difficult investment partners esp for its BRI projects owing to debt trap concerns. Pakis, Nepal and Sri Lanka are already in soup and more nations the world over is facing intense heat of Chinese loan repayment concerns incl African and EU nations.
China and its dominating economy has been a threat to most of the nations seeking Chinese investments. Xi’s visit to the three nations is nothing but trying to renew its cooperation in limited fields. It may also be an attempt to show EU and NATO their respective places.