China’s courtship of Serbia has moved far beyond symbolic gestures. What began as economic cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative has evolved into joint military training, police collaboration, and deep political alignment. The growing relationship is raising alarms in Brussels and Washington, not just because of Serbia’s status as an EU candidate, but because it positions Beijing with a direct foothold in Europe — a foothold it can use to undermine Western influence from within.

Military Cooperation in Peacekeeper 2025

From July 19 to 28, 2025, Serbian and Chinese special forces conducted the “Peacekeeper 2025” exercise in China’s Hebei Province. The drills involved drone tactics, firearms, tactical maneuvers, and mountaineering. Serbian officials touted the training as a way to strengthen interoperability with Chinese forces, ignoring objections from both the U.S. and the EU.

For Beijing, this was not just about skill-sharing — it was a calculated move to gain international operational experience for the People’s Liberation Army, something China sorely lacks compared to the U.S. military. For Serbia, the exercise was an assertion of its so-called military neutrality and its willingness to balance partnerships between the West, Russia, and China.

This marks the first time an EU candidate country has engaged in such drills with China, and security analysts warn it sends a pointed message: Serbia is willing to flout EU alignment in favor of deepening ties with Beijing.

Economic Ties and Political Leverage

China’s economic presence in Serbia is enormous. In 2024, China became Serbia’s top import partner, with over €5 billion in trade, and has financed more than $10 billion in infrastructure projects over the past 15 years. Highways, bridges, energy plants, and railways bear Beijing’s fingerprints.

These deals are often negotiated behind closed doors, ratified without public debate, and shielded from scrutiny as “international agreements.” Analysts argue this opacity enables Serbia’s ruling party to consolidate power while avoiding accountability, especially as Chinese investments are paired with political support and advanced surveillance technology.

The relationship intensified after Xi Jinping’s May 2024 visit to Belgrade, where both sides pledged to build a “Serbia-China community with a shared future in a new era.” For Serbia’s leadership, China offers economic growth without the governance reforms or human rights demands tied to Western aid — a politically convenient arrangement.

Security Cooperation Beyond the Battlefield

The military drills are only part of the story. Serbia has engaged in joint police patrols with Chinese officers, adopted Huawei-made surveillance systems with facial recognition, and allegedly hosted Chinese covert police stations. While Beijing denies any sinister purpose, these operations give China unprecedented influence over Serbia’s security apparatus.

Serbia has also purchased advanced Chinese weapons systems, including CH-92A drones and FK-3 surface-to-air missile systems, making it the first European country to deploy this technology. Training on these systems has taken place in China, cementing a long-term dependence on Chinese military know-how and logistics.

China’s Strategic Purpose

China’s interest in Serbia is not purely economic. Belgrade offers Beijing a politically receptive partner in Europe — one willing to defy Western pressure, vote with China in international forums, and provide a base for military diplomacy. By embedding itself in Serbia’s defense and security sectors, China gains a launch point for influence across the Balkans and a wedge inside the EU’s enlargement process.

These moves fit into China’s Global Security Initiative, which aims to build an international network of military, police, and intelligence partnerships. In Europe, where many countries resist such cooperation, Serbia has become the exception — a gateway for Beijing’s military engagement on the continent.

A Calculated Threat to Europe

Framed as mutual benefit, the China-Serbia partnership masks a deeper strategic play. Beijing is embedding itself in Serbia’s economy, security forces, and political elite, ensuring long-term influence that will be hard to dislodge. By nurturing a pro-China government in a future EU member state, China gains not just access, but a potential veto point inside Europe.

The EU’s warnings have so far fallen on deaf ears in Belgrade. If Serbia continues down this path, Europe may find that China has already secured a quiet but powerful bridgehead — one built not with tanks, but with contracts, cameras, and carefully cultivated political alliances.