China and Europe: The scramble for Europe? | The Economist
The ECFR study is not yet published, but a press notice sets out three areas of concern. I quote:
Bond diplomacy China’s purchase of Spanish and Greek bonds over the past year, and yesterday’s promise to buy from Hungary, have made it a bilateral lender of last resort for politicians in indebted countries. This has serious implications for Europe’s ability to present a united front to China on issues such as trade reciprocity, climate change and human rights.
Direct investment Five years ago, China’s total direct investment in Europe was $1.3 billion. So far in 2011, there have already been three deals that have exceeded that amount.
Europe’s open market for public procurement While European companies are excluded from public procurement in China, European taxpayers are subsidising Chinese businesses that bid for European contracts.
June 28, 2011, 2:08pm
