There’s absolutely no reason why Serbia could not have developed the copper mine themselves and done it to their own satisfaction and standards (which might be higher or lower than the Chinese standards). They’re hardly a third world country (if we’re still allowed to use such expressions).
The reason they haven’t is that they’re poorly led and managed. Don’t blame the Chinese for what’s happening. Ask instead why Slovenia (also part of the former Yugoslavia) is doing so fantastically well while Serbia isn’t.
And don’t ignore the fact that all these villages in Eastern Europe are rapidly losing population anyway.
China – the CCP – sees the whole world as its own to mine and exploit. Land, natural resources, humans, the air, the sea and increasingly space too, nothing is ‘sacred’.
It is wrong to allow this in Serbia or anywhere.
If you want a parable about how the Serbs run things, (try to) go to Beograd railway station.
Sayantani G
23 days ago
Having lived and worked in the Balkans for many years I must say the comparison with Slovenia is unfair. In former Yugoslavia Slovenia was the industrial base. Serbia has increasingly been getting Chinese investment as it needs external funding.
Most of the Western Balkans had a Socialist economy like many erstwhile post colonial nations. The question is why the EU has ceased to be an economic and growth oriented institution, instead tacking on various socio- cultural parameters like ESG which scare off any developing country. CCP naturally steps in to fill the gaps.
There has always to be a balance between extractive mining and environmental balance. I can’t see why the author peddles a ” green” line without seeing the complexities involved of economic sustenance.
What the author describes here one witnessed in many countries of the Balkans – Albania, Montenegro. Even Kosovo, NATO state -let as it is displayed similar landscapes.
In fact ” used cars” was quite a common cottage industry in all these areas.
I find the author confused in his conclusions and trying to peddle a ” net zero” aligned line in a more covert manner by justifying activist politicians.
UnHerd Reader
23 days ago
“But there is more at stake than tradition. Tomić says the Serbian state is absent from the negotiations, “protecting” Zijin while allowing the Chinese company to pressure individual villagers into abandoning their land without adequate compensation.”
What a surprise,
good article, btw,
UnHerd Reader
23 days ago
It was a mistake for the West to ignore China’s spread to every continent, especially Africa. They have built railroads and roads to carry out the minerals that everyone wants and needs. In many countries, China is welcome because of the jobs they bring. While the West was preoccupied with champagne problems, China is conquering the world.
There might be a silver-lining when it comes to war-torn African countries: China needs order & efficiency translating to paved roads, electricity, increased literacy levels etc.
Mark Duffett
22 days ago
Sorry to the inhabitants of Krivelj, but 200 million tonne copper deposits are a lot more rare and precious than Serbian villages. That it is being exploited by a Chinese company is incidental. The hay cart is standing in the way of, not capitalism or the CCP, but the maintenance of high life expectancy civilisation. You know, what used to known and hailed as progress.
Susan Cullom
12 days ago
Chinese activity in the central Asian regions (Kazakhstan…) is impressive (frightening) and oppressive, as well.
There’s absolutely no reason why Serbia could not have developed the copper mine themselves and done it to their own satisfaction and standards (which might be higher or lower than the Chinese standards). They’re hardly a third world country (if we’re still allowed to use such expressions).
The reason they haven’t is that they’re poorly led and managed. Don’t blame the Chinese for what’s happening. Ask instead why Slovenia (also part of the former Yugoslavia) is doing so fantastically well while Serbia isn’t.
And don’t ignore the fact that all these villages in Eastern Europe are rapidly losing population anyway.
China – the CCP – sees the whole world as its own to mine and exploit. Land, natural resources, humans, the air, the sea and increasingly space too, nothing is ‘sacred’.
It is wrong to allow this in Serbia or anywhere.
The only people who can ‘allow this’ or not are the Serbians themselves.
In many countries corrupt rulers ‘allow this’, the people have no say
Regardless, it’s not China who is doing it . . . unless sovereign governments are inviting them in.
If you want a parable about how the Serbs run things, (try to) go to Beograd railway station.
Having lived and worked in the Balkans for many years I must say the comparison with Slovenia is unfair. In former Yugoslavia Slovenia was the industrial base. Serbia has increasingly been getting Chinese investment as it needs external funding.
Most of the Western Balkans had a Socialist economy like many erstwhile post colonial nations. The question is why the EU has ceased to be an economic and growth oriented institution, instead tacking on various socio- cultural parameters like ESG which scare off any developing country. CCP naturally steps in to fill the gaps.
There has always to be a balance between extractive mining and environmental balance. I can’t see why the author peddles a ” green” line without seeing the complexities involved of economic sustenance.
What the author describes here one witnessed in many countries of the Balkans – Albania, Montenegro. Even Kosovo, NATO state -let as it is displayed similar landscapes.
In fact ” used cars” was quite a common cottage industry in all these areas.
I find the author confused in his conclusions and trying to peddle a ” net zero” aligned line in a more covert manner by justifying activist politicians.
“But there is more at stake than tradition. Tomić says the Serbian state is absent from the negotiations, “protecting” Zijin while allowing the Chinese company to pressure individual villagers into abandoning their land without adequate compensation.”
What a surprise,
good article, btw,
It was a mistake for the West to ignore China’s spread to every continent, especially Africa. They have built railroads and roads to carry out the minerals that everyone wants and needs. In many countries, China is welcome because of the jobs they bring. While the West was preoccupied with champagne problems, China is conquering the world.
There might be a silver-lining when it comes to war-torn African countries: China needs order & efficiency translating to paved roads, electricity, increased literacy levels etc.
Sorry to the inhabitants of Krivelj, but 200 million tonne copper deposits are a lot more rare and precious than Serbian villages. That it is being exploited by a Chinese company is incidental. The hay cart is standing in the way of, not capitalism or the CCP, but the maintenance of high life expectancy civilisation. You know, what used to known and hailed as progress.
Chinese activity in the central Asian regions (Kazakhstan…) is impressive (frightening) and oppressive, as well.