NATO recently made a bold statement accusing China of being a “decisive enabler” of Russia in its war against Ukraine. This marks a significant shift in NATO’s stance towards China, highlighting growing concerns over Beijing’s support for Moscow’s military efforts. The military coalition specifically called on China to cease all material and political support to Russia, including the transfer of dual-use materials to the Russian defense sector. This explicit accusation is a departure from previous denials by Beijing regarding its involvement in the conflict.
In response to NATO’s accusations, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet issued a statement. However, China’s mission to the European Union criticized NATO’s statement as hyping up China-Russia relations and undermining the rules-based international order. The Chinese mission characterized NATO’s remarks as being filled with a Cold War mentality and belligerent rhetoric, dismissing them as provocative and based on lies and smears.
Despite previous denials, China’s actions speak louder than words. The joint military exercises with Belarus, a close ally of Russia, near the Polish border demonstrate a strong alignment with Moscow. Additionally, China’s peace framework proposal for the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, although unsuccessful, further illustrates Beijing’s involvement in the region. These actions contradict China’s professed neutrality in the conflict and raise questions about its true intentions.
NATO’s communique also highlighted systemic challenges posed by China to Euro-Atlantic security. The rapid expansion and diversification of China’s nuclear arsenal, along with its activities in space and cyberspace, are seen as threats to the alliance. NATO urged China to engage in strategic risk reduction discussions and promote transparency to enhance stability. The coalition is taking steps to protect against China’s coercive tactics and efforts to divide the alliance.
NATO’s denunciation of China marks a significant shift in its approach towards Beijing. The explicit accusations of China’s support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict, as well as the highlighted systemic challenges posed by China, underscore the growing tensions between the military coalition and the world’s second-largest economy. China’s response to these accusations and its actions in the region will be closely watched as the situation continues to evolve.
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