FM denounces NATO as having blood of world’s people on its hands after it labels China as ‘ threat’
China on Thursday expressed strong opposition and denounced NATO, after the USled military alliance vilified China’s development as “systemic challenges” in its newly released “strategic concept” for the first time, which means Beijing was targeted as one of NATO’s “strategic priorities for the next decade.”
Despite Russia being defined as the “most significant and direct threat” by NATO during the two- day summit in Madrid, China, which is viewed as Russia’s “ally” by the West, was also among the targets of NATO’s smear campaign.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Thursday that NATO’s so- called new strategic concept document disregards facts, smears China’s foreign policy, makes irresponsible remarks on China’s normal military development and national defense policy, incites confrontation and smacks heavily of Cold War mentality and ideological bias. “NATO has the blood of world’s people on its hands,” Zhao said. “Chinese people will never forget that 23 years ago when the USled NATO committed the crime of bombing the Chinese Embassy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and now NATO is extending its tentacles to the Asia- Pacific region in an attempt to export the Cold War mentality and replicate the bloc confrontation in Asia.”
For the first time in history, leaders of Japan and South Korea joined the NATO Summit and expressed interest in underpinning a security alliance with the US’ Western allies. A 23- minute three- way summit between US, Japan, and South Korea was also held. Japanese media Kyodo News said the three leaders agreed to boost security cooperation over the Korean Peninsula issue.
South Korean and Japanese leaders also participated in a four- way summit with Australian and New Zealand leaders on Wednesday for the first time.
In the “strategic concept” document, China mainly appears in paragraphs 13 and 14. The rhetoric in paragraph 13 stresses “China threats” in terms of military build- up, cyber operations, technologies and supply chain. While in paragraph 14, NATO said the bloc “remains open to constructive engagement” with China.
“Paragraph 13 which stressed competition and confrontation with China is more about US ideas, while paragraph 14 reflects the will of some of NATO’s European members,” a Beijing- based expert said on condition of anonymity.
“There is a complex situation of confrontation and engagement with China in the current process of NATO transformation. And if NATO’s European members do not take the initiative to exert influence over the US, they will become a tool of American manipulation against China,” the expert said.