China-Cee Relations: A Victim of Geopolitics?
China-Cee Relations: A Victim of Geopolitics?

Summary/Abstract: This paper argues that geopolitical alignments and great-power rivalry are central to understanding the dynamics of China–Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) relations. Geography has placed Central and Eastern Europe between East and West, and history shows that its strategic importance rises during periods of conflict. Against the backdrop of profound turbulence in the international system, geopolitical confrontation in the region is intensifying. The competition involves a wide range of external actors, each pursuing its own strategic agenda and interests, often at odds with one another. As a result, overlapping initiatives and competing visions for the region have created divisions among CEE states, complicating their foreign policy choices. The paper examines how these intersecting pressures shape CEE’s relations with China, focusing on the evolving balance of power at both the regional and global levels and on how regional cleavages constrain or enable cooperation.

• Details
• Contents