BEIJING (Reuters) – Beijing has criticized NATO’s accusations that China is challenging the bloc’s interests and security, and has opposed any attempt by the military alliance to expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
In a strongly worded statement issued in the middle of the two-day summit in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius on Tuesday, NATO said the People’s Republic of China was challenging its interests, security and values with its “ambitions and coercive policies”.
“The People’s Republic of China uses a wide range of political, economic and military tools to increase its global presence and project strength, while remaining vague about its strategy, intentions and military build-up,” the NATO heads of state said in their statement.
“PRC’s malicious hybrid and cyber operations, confrontational rhetoric, and disinformation target Allies and harm Alliance security.”
The Chinese mission to Europe said in a statement on Tuesday that the content of the statement regarding China ignores basic facts, distorts China’s position and policies, and deliberately discredits China.
“We strongly oppose and reject it,” she said.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters at the summit that while China is not an “enemy” of NATO, it is increasingly challenging the rules-based international order with its “coercive behaviour”.
China is increasingly challenging the rules-based international order, refusing to condemn Russia’s war against Ukraine, and threatening Taiwanand conduct a large military build-up.”
However, NATO did not mention Taiwan in its country Statement.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry said it was “very important” that Stoltenberg once again clearly expressed his concern about security in the Taiwan Strait.
She added that Taiwan is a responsible democratic member of the Indo-Pacific region, and is ready to work with like-minded partners such as Europe and the United States to combat coercion and challenges from authoritarian regimes.
He spread his claws
Some Asia-Pacific leaders will also participate in the two-day summit.
Joining for the second time, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida aimed to remind the military alliance to care about East Asian dangers, while South Korean President Yoon Sok-yul sought deeper international security cooperation amid growing North Korean threats and tensions over China.
In May, Kishida said Japan had no plans to become a member of NATO, although NATO was planning to set up an office in Tokyo, its first in Asia, to facilitate consultations in the region.
The Chinese mission said that China firmly opposed NATO’s “eastward move towards the Asia-Pacific region” and warned that any action threatening Beijing’s rights would be met with a firm response.
“Any action that threatens China’s legitimate rights and interests will be met with a firm response,” it said.
In the statement, NATO said that China has sought to control key technological and industrial sectors, critical infrastructure, strategic materials and supply chains, and that Beijing has also used its economic clout to create strategic dependencies and enhance its influence.
China’s state-run news agency Xinhua responded, saying in a report that the wars and conflicts involving NATO countries indicated that the bloc poses a “serious challenge” to global peace and stability.
“Despite all the chaos and conflicts that have already occurred, NATO is extending its tentacles to the Asia-Pacific region with the express aim of containing China.”
(Reporting by Liz Lee and Ryan Wu) Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei. Editing by Michael Perry and Stephen Coates
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