Politics NATO toughens its tone towards China

NATO is toughening its tone towards China. In the text for the final declaration of the alliance summit in Washington, the country is accused of providing decisive support for Russia's war against Ukraine. China's extensive support for the Russian defense industry and the so-called borderless partnership are cited as examples.

"This increases the danger that Russia poses to its neighbors and to Euro-Atlantic security," says the document, which was due to be published on Wednesday evening German time and is available to Deutsche Presse-Agentur.

China could not facilitate the largest war in recent history in Europe without this having a negative impact on its interests and reputation. The increasingly close strategic partnership between Russia and China and their mutually reinforcing attempts to undermine and reshape the rules-based international order are a cause for great concern.

Specifically, NATO is now calling on China to immediately cease all material and political support for Russia's war. This also includes civilian goods that can be used for military purposes and raw materials used by the Russian arms industry, according to the text.

At last year's summit, NATO had been much more cautious. At that time, the summit declaration stated, among other things: "We call on China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, to play a constructive role in condemning Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. (...)".

In the new declaration, NATO also expresses concern about the continued expansion and diversification of China's nuclear weapons stockpile. Specifically, there is talk of further warheads and more sophisticated delivery systems.

In addition, China is once again accused of attempting to divide NATO, for example with disinformation campaigns. To protect itself, the situation picture is now to be improved and operational readiness and resilience increased. At the same time, NATO wants to remain open to constructive talks with China.