BEIJING (AP) — China accused NATO on Thursday of pursuing security at the expense of others and told the alliance not to bring the same “chaos” to Asia.
The statement by a State Department spokesman came a day after NATO labeled China a “decisive accomplice” in Russia’s war on Ukraine.
“It is unreasonable and has sinister motives for NATO to extol China's responsibility over the Ukraine issue,” spokesman Lin Jian said at a daily briefing, insisting that China has a fair and objective position on the Ukraine issue.
China has broken with the United States and its European allies over the war in Ukraine and refuses to condemn the Russian invasion. Trade with Russia has grown since the invasion, at least partly offsetting the impact of Western sanctions.
NATO said in a statement that China made the war possible through its “no-limits partnership” with Russia and its massive support for the Russian defense industry.
Lin said China's trade with Russia is legitimate and reasonable and based on the rules of the World Trade Organization.
He said NATO's “so-called security” comes at the expense of the security of other countries. China has supported Russia's claim that NATO expansion posed a threat to Russia.
China has expressed concern about NATO's burgeoning ties with countries in the region. Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea sent their leaders or deputies to NATO's summit this week.
“China urges NATO to … stop interfering in China's domestic politics and tarnishing China's image, and not to create chaos in the Asia-Pacific region after unrest has already erupted in Europe,” Lin said.
Chinese troops are in Belarus this week for joint exercises near the border with Poland, a NATO member. The exercises are the first ever with Belarus, an ally of Russia.
Lin described the joint training as a normal military exchange and cooperation that is not focused on any particular country.
