China and Turkey spent years strengthening a strategic partnership built on trade, investment and access to European markets. The sudden collapse of a flagship $1 billion Chinese investment now threatens to slow one of Beijing’s most important economic relationships in the region. China is Turkey's third-largest global trading partner, with Turkey importing $45 billion worth of Chinese goods in 2025. The high-profile deal was secured by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an in July 2024, aiming to make Turkey an EV manufacturing hub. Back in 2022, a comprehensive United Nations human rights report found credible evidence that Beijing's actions in the Xinjiang region may constitute crimes against humanity.