China’s beachhead in the Balkans

Serbia is playing a dangerous game with the West. While the European Union and the United States are pursuing a partnership with and EU membership for Serbia, Serbia is cultivating a rapidly expanding relationship with China — buying weapons systems from Beijing and participating in its insidious Belt and Road Initiative.

It’s time for Washington and Brussels to put the choice to Belgrade: It can have either the benefits of membership in Western institutions or short-term gain with strings attached from Beijing, but not both.