China’s Sticks and Carrots in Central Europe: The Logic and Power of Chinese Influence
A new comparative study has revealed that China has been using a targeted mix of ‘carrots’ and 'sticks' to increase its influence in Central European countries. Findings reveal that China does not use a ‘one size fits all’ approach towards the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, instead relying on varying local political climates, existing geopolitical standing and level of bilateral interactions to shape its strategy and tactics in the region. The study was undertaken by the MapInfluenCE project and involved collaborative research across these four Central European nations.
