Pellegrini in China: Slovakia wants Chinese tech, but the EU warns against it

Slovak President Peter Pellegrini has signaled a strong interest in deepening economic ties with China, particularly in science, research, and modern technologies, during his official visit to Beijing. He met with top Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, emphasizing that "only mutual cooperation brings benefit to both partners, not confrontation." Pellegrini also stated that Slovakia is open to creating further conditions for Chinese investors to enter the Slovak market.

However, Pellegrini's outreach contrasts sharply with recent security assessments within Slovakia and the European Union. A report by Slovakia's National Security Authority (NBÚ) highlighted cyber-espionage activities by "predominantly Russian and partly Chinese" groups targeting state institutions and critical infrastructure. The NBÚ warned of an "intense effort, primarily by Chinese and Russian state-sponsored groups, for long-term, inconspicuous operation in compromised networks."

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only mutual cooperation brings benefit to both partners, not confrontation

Matej Šimalčík, executive director of the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS), noted that while presidential visits to China are legitimate, Pellegrini's stance on technological cooperation deviates significantly from European frameworks. Šimalčík and opposition politicians have criticized Pellegrini for not adopting a more critical stance on economic issues with China, a position that appears to disregard the security warnings issued by Slovak intelligence agencies.

Meanwhile, the EU faces its own tensions with Beijing, including potential trade wars and disputes over tariffs on electric vehicles and restrictions on chip-making machinery exports. Pellegrini's push for closer technological ties with China occurs against this backdrop of increasing international scrutiny and caution regarding Chinese technology.

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Attackers are increasingly targeting supply chains, industrial control systems, and operational technologies, with an evident intense effort primarily by Chinese and Russian state-sponsored groups for long-term, inconspicuous operation in compromised networks.