Walking on Tightropes: The Idiosyncrasies of Albania-China Relations

It has been quite some time since the re-emergence of the Socialist Republic of China as one of key political and trade key partners for the former Eastern European countries. As matter of fact, China for some time has been very influential worldwide through the Belt and Road Initiative, in the Southeastern Europe through its 16+1 format, as well as specifically in Western Balkans, particularly with its major investments in industry, road construction, debt trap diplomacy, Confucius institutes and other political, economic and cultural leverages. Albania could not have been the sole exception from the rule, although it relies less on Chinese investments and direct interference as some of its Western Balkan neighbors, save for the Republic of Kosovo. However, the Albanian case has received only scant interest, both in academic circles and scholarly works as well as in mass media and other means of public communications. This has mainly been based on the assumption that Albania is naturally immune from any Chinese influences, be that in political, economic, or socio-cultural axes.   Received: 10 September 2022 / Accepted: 21 October 2022 / Published: 30 November 2022