Unfavorable views of China have been on the rise in a number of Western democracies such as Australia and Canada, according to a survey by Pew Research Center. Growing negative sentiments are recorded as well in Italy, France, and the Netherlands [Unfavorable Views of China Reach Historic Highs in Many Countries]. Such developments combined with the economic fallout as a result of the coronavirus put a serious question mark over the future trajectory of the BRI with regard to cooperation between China and various Western countries.
More long-term implications for the BRI have emerged from Xi Jinping’s declaration to the UN General Assembly that China commits to becoming carbon neutral by 2060 [China pledges to become carbon neutral before 2060]. While China is the biggest global investor in renewable energy, such 180-degree policy turn would require substantial restructuring in domestic industrial outputs. Up until now the excess capacity in China’s coal production has resulted in state-owned companies being encouraged to look abroad for new markets. If China were to achieve its announced goal, this certainly will result in a reformulation of the BRI and the infrastructure and energy investments associated with it.
At the same time, NGOs and citizens from the Serbian cities of Bor and Smederevo have reported that there has been a surge in air pollution following the purchases of local steel and copper factories by Chinese companies [Serbia has rolled out the red carpet to China - but at what cost?]. For China’s green policy turn to yield tangible results, hazardous environmental shortcomings should be considered not only with regard to planned projects, but to completed ones as well.
Mirela Petkova
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