Politics
China Is Forced to Reconsider Its Route Into Eastern Europe
- 16+1 members disappointed as projects fail to materialize
- Dealing with China ‘like milk production’ in communist times
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China’s efforts to make inroads in eastern Europe are being hindered by what nations see as failed promises on money materializing and the strings attached to investments.
The so-called 16+1 framework was established by China as a means to deepen its footprint in eastern Europe. Its members -- 11 European Union countries, from Poland to Hungary and Estonia, plus five Balkan states -- saw the annual forum as a means to attract Chinese investment in infrastructure like roads and rail networks to boost their economies.