Adem Seneman*
In recent days, an important piece of news was lost amid the crowded agenda. An investment agreement worth 1 billion dollars was signed between the Chinese electric car manufacturer BYD and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. With this agreement, BYD will establish an electric car manufacturing facility and R&D center in Turkey with an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles.
Every country naturally wants to attract investment. Receiving foreign investment is an important strategy for accelerating economic growth and development in various areas, especially for developing countries.
However, the investment coming from China brings serious risks alongside its benefits to Turkey.
This is because China uses investment not only for economic gain but also as a means to influence the politics and bureaucracy of target countries. This strategy, which they have applied for many years, has been quite successful in Africa, the Balkans, and even some European countries. Known as ‘ghost diplomacy,’ this strategy plays a significant role in positioning China as a global power.
Ghost Diplomacy
Ghost diplomacy operates through more covert, indirect, and sometimes ambiguous methods instead of direct and open diplomatic contacts. This type of diplomacy is often conducted through seemingly non-political channels such as non-governmental organizations, think tanks, and academic circles, trying to influence the country’s policies.
This strategy, which started during the Mao Zedong era, gained momentum with Deng Xiaoping’s reform and opening-up policies. In the 21st century, it has become more pronounced with Xi Jinping’s large-scale projects such as the “Chinese Dream” and the “Belt and Road Initiative.” As China’s economy grows, so does its sphere of influence.
China’s Investments in Africa and the Balkans
With these policies, China has become quite influential in developing countries. From Pakistan to Italy, in many countries, it is making a place for itself through investments and the migration of its citizens. According to a report by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), China invested 32 billion euros in the Balkans alone between 2009 and 2021. The investment in Serbia alone is 10 billion euros.
The African continent is almost in China’s hands. The amount of investment China made in Africa in 2018 alone was 46 billion dollars. Most of these investments are in mining, gas, and oil. Pakistan, which is in conflict with India, received 62 billion dollars of investment from China.
Risks of Chinese Investments for Turkey
This investment in Turkey is expected to provide great political and economic benefits to China. China has pursued an aggressive policy in the automotive sector, especially with the introduction of electric cars. The Chinese state has given such large incentives to private companies that this has caused great concern among politicians in Europe. To combat this, it announced that it would impose new taxes on cars coming from China.
At this point, the company BYD took advantage of the economic agreements between the EU and Turkey and made an agreement with Turkey. It will not only use Turkey as a base but also strengthen its lobbying activities in the country. Most of the workers at the new factory will be brought from China, continuing the migration policies it applied in Italy, the Balkans, and Africa. Furthermore, it will position itself more advantageously against the national car manufacturer TOGG by producing cheap technology within the country.
In countries where transparency and rule of law are undermined, and corruption and bribery have become blatant, this diplomatic strategy makes China’s job much easier. In a NATO member country like Turkey, China’s investment and lobbying activities can jeopardize both economic security and political and military security. In the past, Chinese companies with a rather poor record have been banned in some countries. Germany will not allow the critical components of Huawei and ZTE to be used in the 5G network from the end of 2029. Similarly, evidence of Huawei and ZTE’s espionage activities had emerged in the US.
With the Russia-Ukraine war and the US-China competition starting in the Pacific, military activities have increased in every area worldwide. At a time when there are significant statements about World War III even in Turkey, the national security strategy and policies of the country are sounding the alarm. In an environment where national security policies are perceived only as arms production, the lack of attention to such strategies is a major handicap for Turkey.
*Adem Seneman is a journalist focusing on international security and geopolitics.
*This article was originally published in Bold Media and translated into Turkish by Politurco.
