The new economic statecraft of China and Russia: challenges, costs, and policy implications.

This project aims to study the use of economic instruments by the People’s Republic of China (China) to pursue foreign policy or strategic goals vis-à-vis third countries, in this case Belgium and the EU.
The project aims to achieve three objectives. Firstly, it aims to conceptualize the threat that Belgium and the EU face from Chinese economic statecraft and to document this threat empirically. Based on the conceptual and empirical findings, the project will then formulate input for counterpolicies that can effectively reduce vulnerability and build resilience. Secondly, the project aims to track the policy tools that are currently available or are being developed by the EU and Belgium in response to growing concerns about Chinese economic statecraft. Subsequently, a qualitative assessment will be made of how these new policy tools reduce European and Belgian susceptibility to Chinese economic statecraft and how they can be strengthened. Thirdly, the research aims to look at how Chinese economic statecraft affects Belgium and the EU’s relations with crucial third countries, in particular key African countries with which both seek to strengthen relations in a world marked by geopolitical tensions, including over access to energy and critical raw materials.

The project HFM/22-01 is financed under the DFR call.