China's Increasing Cooperation with CEE: A policy to Counterbalance the EU?

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 14 Sayı: 5, 2675 - 2696, 31.12.2025

İshak Turan

https://doi.org/10.15869/itobiad.1781109

Öz

China's successful implementation of its outward-looking policies and its acceptance into the WTO after the Cold War have led to a reduction in trade barriers. China has thereby accelerated its economic rise and developed its methods of cooperation with regional institutions. China, which initiated official and commercial relations with the EU in the 1970s, took a holistic approach to Europe until the 2010s due to its concerns about attracting investment and export concern. However, the rise of voices calling for preventing increasing dependence on China in the mid-2000s and the loss of income and employment suffered by European countries during 2008 economic crisis marked an important turning point. On the other hand, China's success during this period and its substitution of Central and Eastern European countries played an active role in the establishment of the 17+1 platform. China's promise to increase its global investments under the BRI has also increased interest in China across Europe. This has also raised suspicions that China is involved in a new initiative to divide the EU from within through its 17+1 platform in Europe. The main objective of this study is to reveal what China aims to achieve through its multifaceted cooperation in Europe and to determine how realistic the growing suspicions about China are. This study applies a qualitative research method, utilizing fieldwork, pre-interviews, and comprehensive data analysis. The findings of the study indicate that there has been no significant change in China's traditional perspective toward Europe, and investments in the 17+1 countries are not large enough to divide the EU. China's trade and investment policies continue to focus heavily on Western European countries. On the other hand, China's projects, acquisitions, and construction activities in different parts of Europe show that it is seeking to advance its national interests across the continent.

Anahtar Kelimeler

17+1 , CEE , China , Cooperation , European Union

Destekleyen Kurum

yok

Çin'in Orta ve Doğu Avrupa ile Artan İş Birliği: AB'ye Karşı Denge Oluşturma Politikası mı?

Öz

Çin’in dışa açılım politikalarını başarıyla uygulamaya başlaması ve Soğuk Savaş sonrasında DTÖ üyeliğine kabul edilmesi, ticari engellerin azalmasını sağlamıştır. Böylece Çin, bir taraftan ekonomik açıdan yükselmesini hızlandırmıştır ve diğer taraftan da bölgesel kurumlarla olan iş birliği yöntemlerini geliştirmiştir. 1970’lerde AB ile resmi ve ticari ilişkileri başlatan Çin’in yatırım çekme ve ihracat kaygılarından dolayı 2010’lara kadar Avrupa ülkelerine yönelik bütüncül yaklaştığı görülmektedir. Ancak 2000’lerin ortasında itibaren Çin’e yönelik artan bağımlılığın önlenmesine dair seslerin yükselmesi ve 2008 ekonomik krizinde Avrupalı ülkelerin ciddi gelir ve istihdam kaybına uğraması önemli bir dönüm noktasıdır. Diğer taraftan, bu dönemde Çin’in başarılı bir sınav vermesi ve Merkez ve Doğu Avrupa ülkelerini ikame etmesi, 17+1 platformunun kurulmasında etkin olmuştur. Kuşak ve Yol Girişimi kapsamında Çin’in küresel yatırımlarını artıracağı vaadi de Çin’e yönelik kıta Avrupa’sındaki ilgiyi artırmıştır. Bu da beraberinde Çin’in Avrupa’da 17+1 platformu ile AB’yi içten bölecek yeni bir girişim içinde mi olduğuna yönelik şüphelerini artırmıştır. Çalışmanın temel amacı da Çin’in Avrupa’da yürüttüğü çok yönlü iş birliği ile aslında neyi amaçladığını ortaya çıkarmak ve Çin’e yönelik artan şüphelerin ne kadar gerçekçi olduğunu ortaya çıkarmaktır. Bu çalışmada nitel araştırma yöntemi kullanılmıştır ve bu doğrultuda saha çalışması, ön görüşme ve kapsamlı veri analizinden faydalanılmıştır. Çalışmanın bulguları göstermektedir ki Çin’in geleneksel Avrupa’ya yönelik bakış açısında ciddi bir değişiklik yoktur ve 17+1 ülkelerine yaptırımlar, AB’yi bölebilecek büyüklükte ve nitelikte değildir. Çin’in ticaret ve yatırım politikalarından halen yoğunluğun batı Avrupa ülkeleri olduğu görülmektedir. Yine de Çin’in Avrupa’nın farklı bölgelerinde hayata geçirdiği projeler, satın almalar ve inşaat faaliyetleriyle kıta genelinde ulusal çıkarlarını artırmaya çalıştığı da görülmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

17+1 , Avrupa Birliği , CEE , Çin , İş Birliği

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