The Institute of International Economic Relations (IIER) has just finished a large-scale research into “China in the Security Conundrum of Europe’s Southeastern Periphery”. The report, co-authored by Plamen Tonchev and Vasilis Petropoulos, covers 21 countries in the Western Balkans, the Black Sea basin and the Eastern Mediterranean – a vast area “hosting” several major conflicts, such as the ones in Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, and Libya, as well as several “frozen” conflicts.
The research dives deep into China’s presence in the region as a security “quasi-actor”, as assessed against seven indicators: military-to-military cooperation, naval port calls, peacekeeping initiatives (or lack thereof), arms sales, infrastructure security, telecommunications and surveillance systems, and law enforcement.
The authors conclude that, while China is likely to remain a transactional extra-regional power that stands aloof from substantively enmeshing itself in the security architecture of Europe’s southeastern periphery, its role calls for a careful study of Beijing’s pursuits, and a well thought-out response from governments in the region.
Read the report HERE