NATO warns Beijing of "serious consequences" and Putin accuses Europe of igniting confrontation

 

NATO warns Beijing of "serious consequences" and Putin accuses Europe of igniting confrontation

China responded to warnings made by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg of dire consequences if it provided military assistance to Russia in its war with Ukraine, stressing that it was not on Moscow's side in its war, but it understood the Russian point of view.

Stoltenberg said that China did not condemn what he described as the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine, and proceeded to sign understandings for unlimited partnership with Russia, warning that any Chinese assistance to Russia would be a big mistake, and would result in dire consequences, as he put it.

The Secretary-General of NATO accused both China and Russia of opposing the rules of the global order, calling on the partner countries to stand as allies under the umbrella of the alliance.

The Chinese comment on Western concerns in the New York Times was made by the Chinese ambassador to the European Union, Fu Zong, who said that his country was not on Russia's side in the war against Ukraine, and that Beijing did not provide military assistance to Moscow, nor did it recognize the annexation of Ukrainian lands to Russia. , including Crimea and Donbass.

The Chinese ambassador accused the US Secretary of State of spreading lies through the media, by claiming that China is considering supplying lethal weapons to Russia, stressing that his country will not provide weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine now or in the future.

The Chinese diplomat made it clear that Beijing did not condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, because it understood Russia's view on the defensive war against NATO's encroachment, and stressed that the root causes of the crisis in Ukraine are more complex than what Western leaders say.

The Chinese ambassador called on the European Union to formulate a more coherent policy on the relationship with Beijing, instead of following Washington's approach.

geopolitical confrontation

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the European Union of "igniting a geopolitical confrontation" with Russia, when he received the credentials of the new EU ambassador to Moscow, French diplomat Roland Gallarragh.

"The European Union has ignited a geopolitical confrontation with Russia," Putin said in a speech in the Kremlin, expressing regret that relations between Moscow and Brussels had "deteriorated sharply in recent years."

NATO meeting

Concerns about the Sino-Russian rapprochement were present in Brussels, where the work of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting continues for the second and final day.

NATO hosts representatives from Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea to discuss the situation on China.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the allies would discuss China's "growing rapprochement with Russia," as well as concerns that Beijing could supply arms to Moscow.

NATO allies will also discuss the impact of Ukraine's war on the Indo-Pacific region, and they will hold a special session with Sweden to discuss its accession to the alliance, as it is looking to catch up with Finland after it overcame Turkish and Hungarian reservations.

On the sidelines of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell urged China to play a positive role in facing international security challenges, and expressed - in a speech - a European desire for a constructive partnership with Beijing.

Macron in China

In light of Western concerns about China as well, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Beijing for a 3-day visit during which he will discuss several issues, the most important of which is the war in Ukraine.

In a speech to the French community in Beijing, Macron said that China can play a major role in finding a path leading to peace in Ukraine, adding that China's proposal for a peace plan shows a will to take responsibility and try to forge a path leading to peace.

This year, China proposed a 12-point peace plan to resolve the Ukraine crisis, calling on both sides to agree to a gradual de-escalation leading to a comprehensive ceasefire.

But the plan met with great rejection from the West due to China's reluctance to condemn Russia, and the United States and NATO said after that that China was considering sending weapons to Russia, which Beijing denied.

French officials say the focus of Macron's talks is to persuade China not to switch completely to the Russian camp, by sending weapons to Moscow.

Part of Macron's meetings with Chinese officials is attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who pre-empted her visit by stressing that the EU's relationship with China would depend on Beijing's position on Russia's war on Ukraine.

Von der Leyen, who will meet with Macron, Chinese President Xi Jinping tomorrow, Thursday, called on Beijing, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to play a role in protecting the values and principles that are at the heart of the United Nations Charter, and achieving a just and lasting peace.

And last week, von der Leyen, during a keynote address on the relationship between the European Union and China as well, called for rebalancing relations with the world's most populous country.

She also stressed that the European Union should become more independent and reduce economic risks, stressing at the same time that there is no interest in moving away from China.