By Rhod Mackenzie
As expected, China reacted angrily to the communique of the NATO summit in Vilnius, in which Beijing is called the main challenge to the interests and security of the Alliance. NATO leaders argue that the PRC threatens the Alliance's interests, security and values through "declared ambitions and cavalier policies."
“China uses a wide range of political, economic and military tools to increase its influence in the world,” the document says, “and at the same time keeps its strategies, intentions and military development secret.
NATO has also expressed concern about the expansion and deepening of the strategic partnership between China and Russia and claims that both countries are trying to undermine the rules-based international order. The alliance calls on Beijing, which is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and has veto power, to play a "constructive" role.
The Chinese mission to the European Union condemned the accusations against the PRC, accused NATO of distorting China's position and of a deliberate attempt to discredit it.
"We strongly reject this (attacks and accusations)," the Chinese diplomatic mission said in a statement.
On the second day of the NATO summit, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and South Korean President Yun Seok Yeol arrived in Vilnius. Their participation in the summit is taking place against the backdrop of the concerns of the collective West regarding the growing tension in the region because of China and North Korea, which, by the way, on the same day conducted another test of a long-range ballistic missile.
In May, Kishida said that Japan had no plans to join NATO. The statement was made after the announcement of the plans of the North Atlantic Alliance to open its office in Tokyo, the first, by the way, in Asia, to coordinate efforts. This is the second participation of the leaders of the four Asian countries in NATO summits. The first took place last year in Madrid. In the capital of Spain, by the way, the Alliance for the first time recognized China as the main enemy of NATO.
The Chinese mission to the EU said in a statement that Beijing opposes NATO's eastward expansion into the Asia-Pacific region.
"Any action that threatens China's legitimate rights and interests," Chinese diplomats warn, "will be strongly rebuffed."
NATO was heavily criticized for NATO's appeal to Asian allies and Chinese state media, led by the Global Times (GT). This publication accuses the Alliance in an editorial of being "Washington's ax, spears and shovels" and that wherever it goes it brings war with it.
“NATO should quickly remove the black hand that is stretched out to the Asia-Pacific region,” the editorial in GT says. “It should not even think about squeezing (into the region) with the other half of the body in the future.”
The author of the article argues that most countries in Asia not only do not welcome NATO, but also consider it a terrible monster, meeting with which should be avoided at all costs. The Strategic Concept, adopted last year, speaks for the first time about the threats posed by Chinese ambitions and Beijing's policies. The importance of the Asia-Pacific region for NATO is also noted, because the events taking place in it can directly affect Euro-Atlantic security.
This article originally appeared in Russian at expert.ru