Red Flags: Tracking Chinese Influence in the Western Balkans

The Red Flags project is a CSIS initiative from Reconnecting Asia and the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program to track Chinese economic influence and political leverage in the Western Balkans. During this 18-month effort, CSIS collected data on China’s activities in the region and produced a series of reports to visualize regional and sectoral trends, connect economic and political developments, and provide recommendations for U.S. and partner responses. The project culminated in a Red Flags Checklist—a tool for policymakers and other stakeholders to evaluate risks at the project level.

This project was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations.

Reports

Report

Red Flags: Triaging China's Projects in the Western Balkans

March 1, 2021| Heather A. Conley, Jonathan E. Hillman, Donatienne Ruy, Maesea McCalpin

This report provides recommendations for U.S. and partner responses to China's growing economic and political influence in the Western Balkans and a “red flags” checklist to help identify activities that warrant further scrutiny.

Report

Becoming a Chinese Client State: The Case of Serbia

September 24, 2020 | Heather A. Conley, Jonathan E. Hillman, Maesea McCalpin, Donatienne Ruy

This CSIS report examines Chinese economic activities in Serbia to shed light on China’s political and economic objectives, its mechanisms for influence, and the implications of its activities, including a second wave of digital infrastructure projects.
 

Report

China’s 'Hub-and-Spoke' Strategy in the Balkans

April 27, 2020 | Heather A. Conley, Jonathan E. Hillman, Donatienne Ruy, Maesea McCalpin

This report assesses the strategic implications of Chinese economic activities in seven Western Balkan countries using original data collected by CSIS.