Belgrade increases extraditions of Chinese citizens to China amid rising tensions

In recent years, Serbia has seen a notable increase in the extradition of Chinese citizens back to China, with five individuals extradited over the past five years. This trend reflects deepening ties between Serbia and China, particularly in the context of economic cooperation that includes significant investments tied to Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Serbian Justice Ministry is currently preparing a draft extradition law that aims to expand cooperation with China, including procedural regulations for extraditing individuals charged with crimes. This proposal arises amid rising concerns from human rights advocates regarding the potential misuse of extradition agreements by the Chinese government, which has been criticized internationally for targeting not only criminals but also political dissidents and vulnerable groups such as the Uyghurs. Following a state visit by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to Belgrade, the two nations signed an extradition agreement in May, further solidifying their partnership. Visa-free travel policies have facilitated an increase in the number of Chinese nationals entering Serbia, raising alarms about the entry of criminals seeking to evade legal repercussions. The Serbian government has issued over 45,000 work permits to Chinese citizens since 2016, and as of now, there are more than 3,400 registered Chinese citizens in the country. However, the contents of the extradition deal along with some contracts between Serbia and Chinese firms, including those related to infrastructure projects, remain undisclosed, resulting in public scrutiny and calls for greater transparency.