China has accused NATO of prioritizing its own security at the expense of others and warned the alliance against bringing chaos to Asia. This statement follows NATO's recent characterization of China as a 'decisive enabler' of Russia's actions in Ukraine.
A spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry dismissed NATO's claims, labeling them as unreasonable and driven by sinister motives. The spokesperson emphasized that China maintains a fair and objective stance on the Ukraine conflict.
Unlike the United States and its European allies, China has refrained from condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In fact, China's trade with Russia has increased since the conflict began, partially offsetting the impact of Western sanctions.
NATO, during a summit in Washington, accused China of enabling the war in Ukraine through its close partnership with Russia and substantial support for Russia's defense industry. In response, China defended its trade with Russia as legitimate and compliant with World Trade Organization regulations.
The spokesperson criticized NATO's approach to security, arguing that the alliance's actions often come at the expense of other countries' security. China has aligned itself with Russia's view that NATO expansion poses a threat to Russia.
China has expressed unease over NATO's growing ties with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea, which participated in the recent NATO summit.
China called on NATO to refrain from meddling in its internal affairs, tarnishing its reputation, and inciting turmoil in the Asia-Pacific region following the unrest in Europe. Chinese troops are currently engaged in joint military exercises with Belarus near the Polish border, marking the first such collaboration with Belarus, a Russian ally.
The spokesperson characterized the drills as routine military cooperation not aimed at any specific country.
