The position of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in the international order significantly depends on the current mood and priorities of world powers. Of course, this is not something new or something that should be strange in the international relations of “big” and “small”, and it represents everyday life in international geopolitical folklore.
Such relations, when it comes to BiH, have been quite clear since the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement. One part of the politicians in BiH believes that the United States (U.S.) and the remaining Western countries are true friends of BiH, while the other part of the politicians, primarily those who form the government in Republika Srpska (RS), believe that it is Russia.
The People’s Republic of China suddenly joined this political division, where BiH found itself on the border of east and west once again. Relations between BiH and China are long-lasting, and they officially began in 1995, when Beijing recognized the Republic of BiH.
Since 1995, China has participated in many economic and other projects in BiH, which has certainly confirmed the friendship between the two countries. In addition to Chinese activities in BiH, domestic officials have repeatedly pointed out that BiHmust nurture good relations with China.
But, in the recent period, at least when it comes to the international level, we can see how relations between BiH and China have entered a somewhat “colder” phase.
Until now, neutral China, a country that was not overly interested in internal affairs in BiH, has recently become a country whose political views on BiH coincide with the policy of the Russian Federation, but also with the representatives of the Serbian people in BiH. This can best be seen in the example of the “recognition” of the High Representative’s (HR) legitimacy in BiH, where Chinese officials are of the view that the election of Christian Schmidt is not under the law and rules.
Where did it go wrong?
Considering the sudden change in the mood of Chinese officials when it comes to BiH, the question arises as to how China has gone from a neutral state to a position where it stands openly with Russian thoughts on the work of the HR.
Although “justification” in such a geopolitical turn can be sought in global movements where Russia and China are developing stronger military-political ties, and because both countries are subject to sanctions by Western countries to which BiH inevitably belongs, “the diplomatic turn“ can be viewed from another aspect.
Namely, in June 2021, BiH, together with 39 countries, signed a statement sharing concerns about the human rights situation in the autonomous Chinese region of Xinjiang.
This statement, when it comes to the Balkan countries, was signed by Albania and Croatia, and what is particularly interesting, none of the countries that can be defined as countries with a majority Muslim population, did not participate in signing the document, which is certainly part of diplomatic moves which retreat in the relations between the Arab countries and China.
Diplomatic mistakes in steps or the right move?
The statement on behalf of BiH was signed in June by Foreign Minister Bisera Turkovic, and her signature on this document provoked harsh reactions within BiH, where Presidency member Milorad Dodik reacted, stressing that Turkovic could not sign the document without the consent of three members of the Presidency.
Whether this statement about the Uyghurs is one of the main reasons for China’s change of mood when it comes to the situation in BiH, will probably never be known, but it is certainly a move that inevitably affected geopolitical relations between Beijing and Sarajevo.
E.Dz.
Source: Klix.ba
