In recent weeks, Serbia has once again found itself at the crossroads of global power politics. On Chinese social media, military enthusiasts have been celebrating the prominent role of Chinese-made equipment in Serbia’s preparations for its September 20 military parade — including the debut of two air-defense systems, the HQ-17AE and the HQ-22. At the same time, China’s approval of an extradition treaty with Belgrade on September 12 was hailed as another sign of deepening ties.
But beyond this jubilant narrative, a more complicated picture is emerging. A popular Serbian student blogger on the Chinese platform Bilibili has drawn wide attention by reminding his audience that Serbia’s balancing act between East and West is under growing strain.
According to the blogger, on September 3, while President Aleksandar Vučić was in China, a flurry of diplomatic moves illustrated the fragile equilibrium Serbia is trying to maintain: the foreign minister traveled to Spain, an EU member that refuses to recognize Kosovo’s independence; and the prime minister visited Israel, signaling affinity with U.S. Republicans.
The blogger continues to explain how Serbia has historically been situated at the heart of Europe’s geopolitical crossroads, having to navigate between competing powers — from the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires, to the Soviet Union and the West during the Cold War, and now between NATO, the EU, and rising powers like China and the BRICS. Today, its tradition of “strategic balance” recalls the legacy of Yugoslavia’s non-alignment under Tito, but in a much smaller and more vulnerable state.
Why Is This Important? The more nuanced view of Serbia presented by a Serbian student blogger on Chinese platforms is important because it shows how foreign voices are reshaping Chinese audiences’ understanding of international affairs. Instead of a one-sided narrative of deepening friendship, his analysis of Serbia’s domestic divisions and external pressures brought complexity to the discussion, reminding viewers that diplomacy is rarely straightforward.
The popularity of such content also highlights a growing phenomenon: foreign Chinese-language bloggers gaining influence in China’s public sphere, offering perspectives that official media often overlook.
