European Union works towards preventing 'Chinese takeover' of Europe

A graphic representation of China's One Belt One Road initiative. Pic/ANI

Several European nations are reportedly keen to restrict China's economic-centric geopolitical advance via the multi-billion dollar One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative over concerns about Beijing attempting a takeover of sorts of the region.

According to an article written by a Pakistan-based independent journalist and analyst for the China Policy Institute, Germany, France and Italy are already preventing what they see as a 'proverbial Chinese takeover' of Europe, raising fears this could lead to a break-up of the European Union (EU) in the not too distant future.

Most European countries, according to Salman Rafi Sheikh are reportedly looking at the experience in Southeast Asia, where Chinese investment has resulted in 'neutering the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Cambodia and
The Philippines'. OBOR also known as the Belt and Road Initiative, is failing to gain any traction in Europe, according to Sheikh.

He says that concerns in European capitals are mainly over the considerable secrecy that surround Chinese projects. There is also a view that several Chinese initiatives in Asia have failed to result in the much-espoused 'win-win' claim for recipient countries made by Beijing. Several nations are said to be in deep debt to Chinese bankers.

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