The 2008 financial crisis sent shockwaves through our globalized financial markets, hitting many European economies particularly hard. Those nations suffering the most – Portugal, Ireland, Italy, and Greece, and Spain – were stuck with the”PIIGS nations” moniker due to their inability to recover without outside assistance. In the case of Italy, “the new sick man of Europe”, that assistance has appeared in the form of sovereign investments, most notably from China.
Political risk consultant Fransceso Galietti tracks the sharp increase in Chinese dealings throughout Italy over the past few years in his piece for the World Policy Journal‘s Fall 2015 issue, “China Slips (Quietly) into Italy…and Europe”. His research finds an Eastern economic powerhouse presenting itself as a benign source of capital while subtly taking adavantage of its new partner’s relatively lax foreign investment regulations.
Is Italy China’s “Trojan Horse” into Europe. The World Policy Journal has compiled a few of China’s most high-profile recent investments as the Chinese attempt to establish a more permanent foothold in Europe.
Click here to learn more about China’s growing presence in Italy.
[Compiled by Karina Taylor]
[Photo courtesy of I, Saiko]
