Authors

Miklós Teszáry¹;  ¹ Mathias Corvinus Collegium, Hungary

Discussion

Over the past decade, the People’s Republic of China has significantly increased its economic presence in the Western Balkans. Numerous investments and the establishment of bilateral relations attest to China’s growing interest in the region. This development is particularly noteworthy, as China often appears to serve as a "last hope" for governments in the Western Balkans. This perception arises from China's ability to deliver or finance projects that other entities, such as the European Union and its member states, typically avoid undertaking.
It is important to underline that I am looking at the issue from the perspective of the Serbian state, not the Chinese grand strategy.
My research focuses on the entry of Chinese projects in Serbia, both completed and ongoing, into the public negotiation stage. For the purpose of this study, I refer to these as China-related investments, treating the investments and projects collectively. This approach is due to the observation that when projects remain unimplemented, it is often attributable to external factors (e.g., environmental or civil protests). The research adopts a case study approach, structured into two main parts:


A Historiographic Overview (2012–2020): This section provides an overview of China's penetration into Serbia, with a detailed review and description of the main characteristics of key projects during this period.
Project Analysis Based on Established Criteria: In this section, I analyze the projects using predefined criteria. These criteria aim to answer questions such as:

In which areas are Chinese companies and bidders emerging?
Can publicly available data substantiate the claim that China often enters projects as a last or near-last option?
Are there identifiable common features among the examined projects?


While the empirical study does not directly answer all these questions, comparing the so-called highway project with other projects helps reveal patterns and determine whether the "last resort" concept is applicable.
The research relies solely on publicly available data, including official statements and communications from Serbian companies and the government. The analyzed projects span negotiations and agreements between 2012 and 2020 and predominantly fall under the construction/infrastructure and energy sectors.
Importantly, researchers in the field commonly identify China's motivations as primarily economic. A key factor since 2012 has been the increasing availability of Chinese construction capacity and expertise.
In my view, China's role as a "last hope" for the Western Balkans is significant not only for understanding individual projects but also for examining broader regional dynamics. This perspective positions the research