Advertisements for Huawei are ubiquitous in Europe. In Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, a massive electronic sign for Huawei towers above the central square. A similarly large Coca-Cola sign looms over a statue of what any local will tell you is Alexander the Great that dominates the square. Officially the figure is known as “Warrior on a Horse” to avoid inflaming Greek sensibilities.
Yet, the streets of another capital city in the western Balkans just a little over an hour’s drive to the north is entirely devoid of Chinese products.
Over lunch in a traditional Kosovar restaurant in Pristina, a senior government official reflects on China’s role in the country.