BELGRADE – When China’s first shipment of coronavirus medical aid landed in Belgrade, the president of Serbia was there to kiss the Chinese flag.
In Hungary, officials have played down assistance from the European Union and praised Beijing’s help. In the Czech Republic, its president says only China was there during the virus spread.
While China struggles elsewhere to polish its image tarnished by its initial handling of the coronavirus outbreak, Beijing has no problem maintaining its hard-won influence in Eastern Europe, where it battles for clout with the EU as well as with Russia in countries like Serbia.
China was criticized by many in the West for its early mishandling of the health crisis due to politically motivated foot-dragging