China is not an adversary of NATO, but allies should not allow dependence on China in a number of areas, including critical supplies of raw materials, said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
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“There is no talk of economic disengagement or isolation of the country. China is not our enemy, we should have a close exchange of views and continue trade. I only warn against dependence in certain areas, such as critical supplies of raw materials,” Stoltenberg said, commenting on recent negotiations German Chancellor Olaf Scholz with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
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At the same time, two days ago, Stoltenberg said that he could easily imagine a conflict where Moscow and Beijing act together.
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Last year, Western relations with China deteriorated due to growing tensions around Taiwan and the preservation of the Russian-Chinese partnership in the face of pressure from Western countries on Russia in connection with the military operation in Ukraine.
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In May, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin expressed concern about NATO’s plans to open an office in Japan, noting that the alliance was interfering in the affairs of the Asia-Pacific region and provoking a bloc confrontation, despite assurances that the Asia-Pacific region is not included in the geographical scope of the organization.
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Earlier, he also noted that the Chinese people will never forget NATO’s barbaric crimes in Yugoslavia, where the Chinese embassy in Belgrade was hit by a NATO bombing in 1999.
