“In the context of debates on the rise of China in the West, China’s seaport investment projects in the Mediterranean region have aroused concerns in the US and the EU given that they regard China as an emerging strategic and economic challenge. The EU has strategic doubts about the security, political, and economic implications of China’s seaport investments. The EU is concerned that Beijing’s investment has geopolitical and military purposes, which might undermine internal solidarity in the EU and subvert the existing shipping structure in Europe. This study attempts to discuss how does the EU perceives China’s seaport investment and reveal whether China is a status-quo competitor or a partner for the EU in the Mediterranean. The major finding indicates that the EU had the attitude of hedging China and the US influence plays a significant role on this issue. This study put forth a clear answer on China’s seaport investments’ ‘Dilemma’.”
Ahmet Faruk Işik (T.wai & Shanghai International Studies University) and Zou Zhiqiang (Fudan University) are authors of the article “China’s Seaport Investment In The Mediterranean Region And Eu’s Interrogative Approach” in the latest Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies.
