China | “Don’t try to create chaos in Asia”: Beijing’s harsh response to NATO accusations it is helping Russia in Ukraine war
- Author, contract
- Role, BBC News World
China on Thursday rejected NATO accusations of aiding Russia in the war in Ukraine.
The Atlantic Alliance on Wednesday made some of its harshest comments yet about the role played by the Chinese government in the conflict, which it pointed to as a. “Decisive Facilitator” Of Russia’s war campaign.
NATO’s 32 members issued the final declaration of the summit for its 75th anniversary, which will take place in Washington DC from July 9 to 11.
He highlighted that China’s actions “increase the threat that Russia poses to its neighbors and to Euro-Atlantic security.”
“We call on the People’s Republic of China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and with special responsibility, to uphold the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Stop all material and political support for the Russian war effort,” the statement said.
China’s response
In the document, the allies openly expressed their security concerns about China, not just over the Ukraine war but also over its nuclear arsenal and space capabilities.
This prompted a strong reaction from the government of President Xi Jinping, which called NATO “a war of attrition”.Stop exaggerating the alleged threat from China and is fuelling confrontation and rivalry over the Asian country’s mission in the EU.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian accused the Atlantic alliance of defaming his country with “fabricated misinformation.”
“China urges NATO to (…) stop interfering in China’s internal politics and tarnishing China’s image, because Don’t create chaos in the Asia-Pacific After causing turmoil in Europe,” Lin said.
Beijing also called on NATO to stay away from the Asia-Pacific, arguing that efforts by the US and its allies to strengthen military and security ties with China’s neighbours undermine the country’s interests as well as peace and stability in the region.
The period of accusation and counter-accusation comes at a time when China conducts military exercises with Belarus – a country that Russian President Vladimir Putin used as a staging post for his invasion of Ukraine in 2022 – near the border with NATO member Poland.
The Chinese foreign minister described the exercise as a routine military operation that does not target any specific country.
China plays a leading role in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a defence-focused multilateral partnership that includes Russia, India, several Central Asian countries, and, more recently, Belarus.
US hypersonic missiles in Germany
NATO also announced at its summit this week that, for the first time since the Cold War, long-range US missiles would be deployed in Germany.
is about Tomahawk, SM-6 and hypersonic cruise missiles The United States and Germany indicated in a joint statement that there was considerably more scope than existing.
A 1988 treaty between the United States and the former Soviet Union vetoed such weapons, but the agreement collapsed five years ago.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow would respond with “escalation”.Military response to the new threat”.
“This is just one link in a chain of escalation of tensions,” he argued, after accusing NATO and the United States of trying to intimidate Russia.
The joint statement between the United States and Germany clarified that the deployment of the missiles was initially considered temporary, but would later become permanent as part of the North American country’s commitment to the “integrated deterrence” of Europe and NATO.
Speaking at the NATO summit in Washington, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius accused the US of planning to urge Germany and other European countries to Invest in own development and acquisition of missiles of greater prevalence.
He explained that the temporary deployment of US weapons would give NATO allies time to prepare: “We are talking about a growing serious capabilities gap here in Europe.”
“Necessary” to deter Russia
Pistorius on Thursday signed a letter of intent with his counterparts from France, Italy and Poland to develop long-range missiles in Europe.
The Italian news agency Ansa indicated that the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA) aims to improve European missile capabilities, “so necessary to deter and defend our continent.”
These missiles were banned under Treaty on Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF)Which was signed at the end of the Cold War and banned ground-launched missiles with a range between 500 and 5,500 km.
Russian President Vladimir Putin found it too restrictive and in 2014 the United States accused him of violating the agreement with a new type of nuclear-capable cruise missile.
USA Eventually withdrew from the treaty in 2019and Russia followed shortly after.
Germany’s Greens political party criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s agreement to allow US missiles on German soil.
The Greens are part of Scholz’s ruling coalition and their security spokeswoman Sara Nanni expressed disappointment.
“It can also increase fear and fuel misinformation and incitement,” he told the newspaper. Rheinische Post,
And remember that you can receive notifications in our app. Download the latest version and activate them.