FT: What's behind 16+1, and why EU fears China

This sub-regional (16+1) approach is meeting a great deal of suspicion not only in Brussels but also in the capitals of many member states, the newspaper cited "a European diplomat" who wished to remain anonymous "because of the sensitive nature of the topic."

Another high-ranking European diplomat, who spoke under the same condition, called it "only see the tip of the iceberg."

"The (16+1 is) dealing with many things. Some of them are touching on EU competences, or they are going into new areas where there are already initiatives between the EU and China," he said.

According to the report, the EU is worried that Beijing's closer ties with some poorer nations in Europe will influence the entire bloc's policy.

"In Hungary it is hailed as the 'Eastward Opening'. Serbian authorities see it as the glue in a 'reliable friendship', while the Polish government describes it as a 'tremendous opportunity'," the article said, and added:

"Yet the 16+1, a grouping of 16 central and eastern European countries led by China, receives more caustic reviews in leading EU capitals, with diplomats fearing it could be exploited by Beijing to undermine union rules and take advantage of growing east-west tensions in the pact itself."

"It is clear that Beijing's star is rising" in central and eastern European nations - including in Serbia, which has already has large infrastructure contracts, writes the FT.

"For some in the EU there are two main concerns. The first is that China may intensify efforts to use the influence it is building in central and eastern Europe to frustrate aspects of the EU's common China policy. The second is that some 16+1 countries may exploit strong ties with China to buttress negotiating...