Nato vs China: ‘blame-shifters’ take aim at a ‘decisive enabler’ on Russia’s war in Ukraine

The North Atlantic alliance turned 75 by accusing Beijing of contributing to the European conflict. But China was having nothing of it

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China came in for tough criticism as Nato members and partners met in Washington this week. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 8:59pm, 13 Jul 2024

Nato did not hold back on his criticism of China when the military bloc marked its 75th anniversary in Washington this week.

In what Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said was the “strongest message” the alliance had sent to China over its “contributions” to Russia’s war in Ukraine, Nato said China had become a “decisive enabler” of the conflict through its “no limits” partnership and its large-scale support for Russia’s defence industrial base.

“The deepening strategic partnership between Russia and [China] and their mutually reinforcing attempts to undercut and reshape the rules-based international order, are a cause for profound concern,” the 32 members said in a joint statement.

It also said China posed systemic challenges to Euro-Atlantic security, particularly through “sustained malicious cyber and hybrid activities”.

“Authoritarian leaders” in China, Iran, and North Korea “all [support] Russia’s brutal war”, Stoltenberg told attendees at the formal celebrations on Tuesday.

And China’s alleged backing for Russia would “impact [its] interests”, he said.

That message was underscored by US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who warned the named adversaries that “we’re watching carefully … what impact that has on the security of the Indo-Pacific and other parts of the world”.