China hits out at ‘unilateralism and bullying’ after Nato calls it a strategic challenge
- Beijing says despite US efforts, some of the military alliance’s 29 members were against labelling the country as an adversary
- China is an ‘easy target’ as Washington and Europe are divided over the organisation’s future, according to observers
Steered by the United States, Nato leaders issued a statement after the two-day gathering ended on Wednesday, saying China’s “growing influence and international policies present both opportunities and challenges that we need to address together as an alliance”.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said despite the US efforts, some of Nato’s 29 members were against labelling Beijing as an adversary.
“In fact the biggest threat and challenge the world is facing now is unilateralism and bullying behaviour, of which even US allies have become victims,” she said.
During the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron said China should not “be the object of our collective defence … in strictly military terms”. But he said France was concerned about China’s military presence in the Indian and Pacific oceans.
Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said ahead of the meeting that China’s rise was “coming closer” to shifting the global balance of power, but the alliance did not want to “create new adversaries” or get involved in the South China Sea.
