Beijing on Thursday criticized NATO over a "completely futile" warning after the Western alliance cited China as a "top threat" to global security, arguing that the leaders of the alliance were conducting "ideological prejudices."
NATO's strategic concept, which was published at a summit in Madrid, Spain, said that Beijing's stated ambitions and coercive policies challenged its interests, security, and values. Furthermore, the Western alliance said that China's closer ties to Russia went against its interests, a comment that also drew ire from Beijing.
China as a "Top Threat" to Global Security
During a regular briefing on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that NATO's so-called new strategic concept document "disregard facts, confuse black and white, and smears China's foreign policy." He added that Beijing "firmly opposes" the idea and the claims.
Zhao said that Beijing was warning NATO that "hyping up the so-called China threat is completely futile." The situation comes as the United States has pushed for the alliance to pay greater attention to China, despite reluctance from some allies to switch away from its focus on Europe, as per Channel News Asia.
Beijing has continued to refuse to condemn its ally Russia over the latter's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The two countries have also drawn closer in the political, trade, and military spheres as part of a "no limits" relationship.
Chinese President Xi Jinping this month assured his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of China's support for Russian "sovereignty and security." Furthermore, Beijing has been accused of providing diplomatic cover for Russia by criticizing Western sanctions and arms sales to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.
According to Fox News, Zhao also accused NATO of promoting "confrontation and conflict," adding that "it is filled with the Cold War mentality." The situation comes as this week, NATO agreed to update its strategic concept, which serves as the alliance's guiding principle and was last updated in 2010.
NATO's Strategic Concept
In a statement, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg pointed to China and Russia's growing relationship despite Moscow's "illegal" invasion of Ukraine as a major sticking point for the alliance. He said that the alliance did not regard China as an adversary but said they were disappointed by its failure to condemn Russia.
The alliance, which will soon include 32 members after the applications of Finland and Sweden are concluded, said that Russia "is the most significant and direct threat to Allies' security." However, they still noted that China's burgeoning relationship with Moscow remained a top concern.
The strategic concept wrote, "The deepening strategic partnership between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation and their mutually reinforcing attempts to undercut the rules-based international order run counter to our values and interests."
China's mission to the EU also said in a statement on Thursday that Beijing was furious about NATO's decision. "Who's challenging global security and undermining world peace? Are there any wars or conflicts over the years where NATO is not involved?" it said.
Since the beginning of Russia's war on Ukraine, China has continuously pointed its finger at the United States and NATO on multiple occasions. In response, the Western alliance has been openly talking about China for some time, The Guardian reported.
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