China in the Baltic states’ foreign policy before the COVID pandemic

Abstract

The article considers developments of relations between the three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) and the People’s Republic of China over the last three decades before the COVID pandemic. The author analyzes historical dynamics of Baltic-Chinese official contacts, which preceded contemporary situation, highlights main interests and contradictions which formed the agenda of their relations during the period under review, and describes how the formats of their cooperation have changed over this time. On the basis of this analysis conclusions are made on the main characteristics of Baltic-Chinese relations and their role for Baltic foreign policies.