After Lithuania and Estonia welcomed the Dalai Lama in 2011, China offered its Baltic investment to a more “politically correct” Latvia. The potential for investment in central and eastern European (CEE) countries as part of China's One Belt, One Road infrastructure plan could cause a rift between these countries and western EU member states, says Małgorzata Jakimów, lecturer in Chinese politics at the University of Sheffield. For instance, CEE states sent higher-ranking representatives to China's Belt and Road Forum than did France and Germany. China is also looking to expand its influence beyond Asia. There is also concern among EU member states about the political influence that China would gain through large-scale investments in eastern Europe.
The potential for investment in central and eastern European (CEE) countries as part of China's One Belt, One Road infrastructure plan could cause a rift between these countries and western EU member states, says Małgorzata Jakimów, lecturer in Chinese politics at the University of Sheffield. For instance, CEE states sent higher-ranking representatives to China's Belt and Road Forum than did France and Germany. China is also looking to expand its influence beyond Asia. There is also concern among EU member states about the political influence that China would gain through large-scale investments in eastern Europe.