While Belgrade Burns, Vucic Courts Beijing — Serbia's Strongman Plays Both Sides

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Medals in Beijing, Cobblestones in Belgrade

The images could not have been more contrasting. On Saturday, May 23, riot police deployed pepper spray and anti-riot vehicles against protesters in central Belgrade as demonstrators hurled flares, rocks and bottles at police cordons. At least 23 people were detained. Back-to-back columns of cars had driven into the Serbian capital from across the country — despite the state railway company cancelling all trains to Belgrade in what appeared to be a deliberate attempt to limit turnout.

By Monday, President Aleksandar Vucic was thousands of kilometers away in Beijing, smiling for cameras beside Chinese President Xi Jinping — and receiving a "friendship medal" from him.

The symbolism was hard to miss.

20+ Deals and a Strategic Embrace

After his summit with Xi Jinping, the two leaders presided over the signing of more than 20 bilateral agreements spanning politics, trade, technology and education, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

Xi called for deeper cooperation in artificial intelligence, the digital economy and green energy. Notably, he also voiced support for Serbia's domestic political course — a statement that read less like diplomatic courtesy and more like a political endorsement. Xi said China supports Serbia in choosing a development path that suits its own conditions, and expressed willingness to strengthen the exchange of governance experience.

In a joint statement, both governments declared that human rights must not be politicized — a formulation frequently used by Beijing to deflect international criticism of its own human rights record.

Vucic, for his part, pledged that Serbia "steadfastly supports China's core interests" — diplomatic language for backing Beijing's position on Taiwan and Tibet. The friendship medal was a fitting accessory.

The Protest Movement That Won't Die

The protests shaking Serbia are not a recent development. They began after a renovated concrete canopy collapsed at the Novi Sad railway station in November 2024, killing 14 people. The tragedy triggered a broad anti-corruption movement that has since grown into one of the longest sustained protest campaigns in Serbia's recent history.

Many Serbs blamed the station disaster on graft-fueled negligence during renovation work carried out with Chinese companies. That detail has added a combustible layer to public frustration over the government's deepening embrace of Beijing.

Vucic has come under international scrutiny for his hardline tactics against demonstrators over the past year, including reports of arbitrary arrests and the use of excessive force. The student-led movement's core demand is simple: early elections and the rule of law. As one prosecutor told the crowd on Saturday: a state where laws are enforced selectively is no longer a state — it becomes something else entirely.

The Balancing Act That Isn't

Serbia officially holds EU candidate status — a process that has been ongoing since 2009. Yet Vucic has consistently pursued parallel partnerships with both Russia and China, creating mounting friction in Brussels.

China is now Serbia's largest foreign investor. A free trade agreement signed in 2024 commits Beijing to slashing tariffs on nearly all Serbian imports over the coming decade. The EU has grown increasingly concerned about admitting a new member state more deeply tied to China than any other European government.

In an opinion piece published by the South China Morning Post on the eve of his Beijing trip, Vucic urged Europe to abandon what he called "suspicion and strategic anxiety" toward China. Europe, he argued, should engage with Beijing with "confidence and a serious, open-eyed willingness to cooperate."

The timing of the piece — published while his own citizens were preparing to flood Belgrade's streets — was its own kind of message.

The Bigger Picture: China's Foothold in Europe

For China, Serbia holds special significance: it is one of the few countries in Europe where Beijing is not primarily perceived as a strategic threat, but as a major partner. Vucic's visit to Xi follows a string of high-profile Beijing summits — including meetings with both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin — signaling China's ambition to position itself as an indispensable global power broker.

Vucic's trip comes as Xi received a series of world leaders in recent months. Trump's discussions with Xi focused on easing trade tensions, eventually yielding a bilateral trade framework targeting tariff reductions on goods worth approximately $30 billion.

From Beijing's perspective, a compliant Serbia in the Western Balkans is a valuable asset — a foothold at Europe's doorstep, a Belt and Road showcase, and a willing veto against EU consensus when needed.

Outlook: A Country Pulled in Three Directions

Serbia finds itself at an uncomfortable crossroads. Its citizens are demanding democratic accountability. Brussels is demanding alignment with EU norms and a clear distance from authoritarian partners. And Beijing is offering investment, support — and governance lessons.

Vucic's Beijing visit allows him to project the image of a leader received at the highest level by a global power — capable of securing investment and international recognition for Serbia — even as domestic pressure mounts.

But photo opportunities in Beijing do not resolve collapsing train stations, unanswered corruption allegations or a protest movement that has now persisted for over 18 months. The students marching through Belgrade this weekend are not going away — and the friendship medal from Xi Jinping is unlikely to win them over.

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Sources:

1. AP via CBS News – Belgrade clashes, May 23, 2026: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/serbia-anti-government-students-win-protest-belgrade/
2. Euronews – Vucic defends China ties amid EU tensions: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/05/25/vucic-defends-serbias-chinese-ties-on-controversial-visit-to-beijing
3. Al Jazeera – Clashes in Belgrade, student-led protests: https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2026/5/24/clashes-in-belgrade-as-student-led-protests-demand-elections
4. CP24 / AP – Protesters clash, Chinese companies role in station renovation: https://www.cp24.com/news/world/2026/05/23/serbian-protesters-clash-with-police-after-anti-government-rally-in-belgrade/
5. News.az – Analysis: Why Serbia strengthens its China vector: https://news.az/news/vui-in-beijing-why-serbia-is-strengthening-its-china-vector
6. The Statesman – Student movement timeline: https://www.thestatesman.com/world/serbia-belgrade-protests-2026-aleksandar-vucic-early-elections-student-movement-1503597444.html

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