China’s $1.1 Billion Investment in Serbia Amid Protests and Strategic Shifts

China’s $1.1 billion investment in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and electric vehicles (EVs) in Serbia comes on the heels of massive protests in Belgrade. The investment package was finalized just days after 34,300 protesters gathered in the capital, demanding early elections and accountability for a deadly railway-station collapse. The Serbian government’s response to the protests included the use of riot police and the cancellation of trains to deter more protesters from joining. President Aleksandar Vu?i?’s visit to Beijing resulted in the signing of over 20 cooperation agreements with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The $1.1 billion investment includes projects in AI…