Beijing Angry After US, NATO Members Issue Strongest Condemnation Of China Yet

Beijing expressed ire at NATO on Thursday after the U.S. alliance members issued their strongest condemnation of China yet.

Alliance members in Washington, D.C. for NATO’s annual summit this week signed a joint declaration Wednesday decrying China as a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. In response, Beijing warned NATO on Thursday not to “provoke confrontation” and accused the alliance of “scaremongering” about China’s involvement with Russia.

“To create imaginary enemies to justify its existence and act out of area is NATO’s go-to tactic. To falsely picture China as a ‘systemic challenge’ and vilify China’s domestic and foreign policies is a case in point,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters on Thursday. “On Ukraine, NATO insists that China is responsible. That is ill-motivated and makes no sense.”

China and Russia have dramatically strengthened their relationship since Moscow was sanctioned by the West in 2022, bolstering economic and trade agreements and enhancing political and strategic communications. Chinese state defense contractors have sent Russia a variety of dual-use technologies that have civilian purposes but have been used by Russia’s military to wage war against Ukraine, including fighter jet parts, body armor, drones and rifles, which has drawn warnings from the U.S. and NATO.

Lin claimed Thursday that China has maintained a neutral stance on the Ukraine war and appeared to hint that NATO was responsible for the ongoing conflict.