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Beijing – AFP
China strongly condemned NATO’s “slander” and “attacks” on Tuesday after the defence bloc’s leaders accused the alliance of supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine hours before a summit in Washington.
- “Biden hosts summit”
U.S. President Joe Biden will host leaders of NATO countries as well as those of Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea for three days in Washington starting on Tuesday.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a news conference ahead of the summit on Monday that the invitation from officials from the Asia-Pacific countries “shows that our security is not regional but global.” He added: “Iran, North Korea and China support and assist Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine,” according to the full statement released by NATO.
But the statements by the secretary-general of the alliance, which was founded in 1949 to counter Soviet influence, did not satisfy Beijing.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said: “NATO claims to be a regional organization and a defense organization, but it continues to expand its military outside its borders, provoke conflicts and carry out intimidation.” He added at a regular press conference: “NATO’s so-called security comes at the expense of the security of other countries, and its actions have brought very high security risks to the world and the region,” calling on NATO to “stop creating imaginary enemies everywhere.” He also said that China strongly opposes NATO’s slander and attacks on China, as well as its practice of shifting the blame to other countries. “We oppose NATO’s eastward expansion in the Asia-Pacific region under the pretext of China, which has exacerbated regional tensions.”
- “Support Ukraine”
NATO leaders are meeting in Washington for a summit aimed at reaffirming support for Ukraine and opposition to Russia, which is expected to be overshadowed by U.S. President Joe Biden’s efforts for political survival. Biden, 81, will try to reassure allies of U.S. leadership and his personal ability to remain in power during the meeting amid growing calls for him to withdraw from the race. But U.S. policy will not be the sole focus of the summit.
- “Leadership Engagement”
French President Emmanuel Macron will attend the meeting after his camp leads the French far right, which is likely to secure an absolute majority in the National Assembly, while the presence of new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will constitute his leadership. It is the first international trip for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban since he took office last week, days after his controversial meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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