Summary
China has strongly responded to NATO’s accusations, stating that it challenges the interests and security of the military alliance. Beijing opposes any attempt by NATO to expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. The Chinese mission to Europe rejects the content of NATO’s communique, calling it a distortion of China’s policies and a deliberate effort to discredit the nation. While China is not considered a NATO adversary, the organization states that China’s actions increasingly challenge the rules-based international order.
Key Points
- NATO accuses China of challenging its interests, security, and values with its ambitions and coercive policies.
- China rejects NATO’s claims and states that they disregard basic facts and intentionally discredit China.
- NATO Secretary General highlights China’s challenging behavior, including its refusal to condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine and its military build-up.
- Japan’s Prime Minister emphasizes the importance of addressing East Asia risks, while South Korea’s President seeks increased international security cooperation.
- China opposes NATO’s eastward movement into the Asia-Pacific region and warns of a resolute response to any action threatening its rights.
- NATO expresses concerns about China’s control over key sectors, critical infrastructure, and strategic materials, as well as its use of economic leverage to enhance influence.
Details
Beijing, July 12 (Reuters) – Beijing has strongly responded to NATO’s accusation that China challenges the group’s interests and security. The Chinese mission to Europe issued a statement rejecting the content of NATO’s communique, claiming that it distorts China’s position, policies, and deliberately discredits the nation.
NATO heads of state, in their communique released during the summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, expressed concerns about China’s “ambitions and coercive policies” that challenge their interests, security, and values. They highlighted China’s broad range of tools, including political, economic, and military means, to increase its global footprint and project power.
NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, stressed that China was not considered a NATO adversary, but its actions increasingly challenged the rules-based international order. He cited China’s refusal to condemn Russia’s war against Ukraine, its military build-up, and threats against Taiwan as examples of coercive behavior.
The communique did not mention Taiwan specifically. However, several Asia-Pacific leaders attending the summit, including Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol, emphasized regional risks and the need for international security cooperation.
The Chinese mission warned that any action jeopardizing China’s legitimate rights and interests would be met with a resolute response. China opposes NATO’s eastward movement into the Asia-Pacific region and aims to protect its rights.
NATO also expressed concerns about China’s control over key technological and industrial sectors, critical infrastructure, and strategic materials and supply chains. The organization accused China of using its economic leverage to create strategic dependencies and enhance its influence.
As the NATO summit continues, tensions between China and the military alliance persist, with both sides standing firm on their positions.
