INTERESTS AND PRACTICAL GOALS OF THE «BELT AND ROAD» OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN THE EU COUNTRIES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29038/2524-2679-2023-03-149-164Keywords:
European Union, People’s Republic of China, Belt and Road, conflict of interests, world trade, debt dependence, economic expansionAbstract
The article examines the interests and positions of the EU and the People’s Re- public of China regarding the implementation of the «Belt and Road» initiative. Particular attention is paid to the study of specific actions and statements of the parties, which illustrate approaches to conducting foreign policy and establishing foreign-economic relations with other states. The differences in this issue and the level of their conflictogenicity are determined. Which affects the course of project implementation. The basic principles of investment by the EU and the People’s Republic of China are evaluated as one of the main tools for building trade routes through third countries. Potential threats from the entry of Chinese capital into the logistics structure of the European Union, the reactions of state governments and supranational structures to them have been identified. Emphasis is placed on the economic activity of the People’s Republic of China in EU member states and other European countries as an indicator of China's interests in Europe. The reac- tion of the European community at various levels to the activities of the People’s Republic of China in Europe and the influence of this reaction on the further de- velopment of the initiative were analyzed.
As a result of the study, it was concluded that the interests and positions of the EU and the People’s Republic of China regarding the implementation of the «Belt and Road» initiative not only differ, but often become the cause of conflicts. The activity of Chinese capital in Europe aims not only to increase the capacity of key logistics hubs but also to establish control over them in various ways, which leads to destabilization in the region. The EU legally blocks the implementation of China’s expansionist plans, and this causes a slowdown in the implementation of the project. In addition, the influence of external factors, such as the Russian- Ukrainian war, the influence of the United States on the security situation in Eu- rope, and the global geopolitical crisis cast doubt on the implementation of the project as a whole. At the same time, China’s interest in gradually entering the European market is obvious, which will potentially lead to new challenges in the future.
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