In his piece “China’s Financial Footprint in Europe,” Global Europe Global Fellow Nicola Casarini explores the economic and political implications of China’s financial involvement in Europe. In his analysis of China’s financial pivot towards Europe, Casarini examines Beijing’s broader strategy to export capital and political influence and how Europe contributes to China’s ultimate goal of making the Yuan one of the main currencies for global trade. Casarini describes the evolution of Chinese investment in European companies, purchases of euro-denominated assets and China’s enhanced monetary relations with European central banks. While China’s financial footprint provides economic benefits to the crisis-hit countries of the Eurozone, Casarini observes, some of the more established and stable EU member states are concerned that Europe’s growing dependence on Chinese investment could make it more difficult for Brussels to adopt critical positions against Beijing in the future.

Read the full piece here.