NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg On Thursday, the stakes against China’s cooperation with Russia were raised, with Beijing criticized for “oppressing its own people” and threatening Taiwan.
At the closing press conference after the NATO summit, Stoltenberg reiterated NATO’s recent labeling of China as a “decisive accomplice” in Russia’s war against Ukraine, which NATO leaders reiterated in their statement a day ago.
When asked about China’s ongoing military exercise with Belarus, Stoltenberg said: “The Chinese exercise together with the Belarusian armed forces … only confirms how authoritarian regimes are increasingly aligning themselves, and also how China is moving closer to NATO, in Europe, in Africa and the Arctic and elsewhere.”
The Sino-Belarusian anti-terrorism exercises, being held near the border with NATO ally Poland, coincide with the NATO summit.
“We have to remember what kind of regimes we’re talking about,” Stoltenberg said. “We’re talking about authoritarian regimes. China is suppressing its own people, suppressing democratic voices … in Hong Kong, being more assertive in the South China Sea, threatening neighbors, threatening Taiwan.
“And China is carrying out a massive military buildup without any transparency, investing heavily in modern missiles and nuclear weapons,” he added.
In an email response to POLITICO, the Polish Foreign Ministry said it had “noted” the joint exercises between China and Belarus.
“We have closely monitored the ongoing military cooperation between Belarus and China for many years and recognize its potential impact on Poland’s security,” the company said Wednesday. “We are concerned about China’s increasing military cooperation with Russia and Belarus — countries engaged in aggression against Ukraine.”
The Polish authorities added that these actions “increase the threat in our neighbourhood” and “call into question China’s attempts to position itself as a neutral state in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine.”
