Chinese Influence in the Eastern Trio and the Western Balkans: Strategic Fragmentation in the EU's Enlargement Countries

China’s growing presence in Eastern and Southeastern Europe has become a source of strategic concern for the EU, espescially as global power dynamics shift under the weight of increasing US-China rivalry. Once seen primarily as an economic partner, China is now viewed by many in Europe as a systemic rival, particularly due to its trade practices, ambiguous geopolitical positions – such as its stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – and its model of state led development.