China on Thursday lashed out at NATO's claim that it is enabling Russia's Ukraine aggression. Criticising the Western alliance for using "provocative" remarks, China asked NATO not to bring "chaos" to Asia.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told in a media briefing that, the China-related paragraphs in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's Washington summit declaration are "biased, provocative and aimed at vilifying" Beijing.
"We strongly deplore it and firmly oppose it and lodged a serious representation, (diplomatic protest) to NATO," Lin said.
Lin also hit out at the NATO Asia-Pacific push, saying the alliance is strengthening ties with China's neighbours and US allies trying to seek security at the expense of others and asked it not to bring the same "chaos" to Asia.
He urged NATO to stop interfering in its internal matters.
China will firmly safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests, said Lin.
In its harshest remarks, NATO had accused China of being a “decisive enabler” for Russia with its “large-scale support” for its defence industrial base. NATO has also criticised China's military exercises with Belarus, a close ally of Russia.
The NATO summit is getting underway in Washington. The NATO alliance comprised 32 member states, 30 European and two North American countries including the US and UK.
The NATO declaration said we call on the PRC, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council with a particular responsibility to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, to cease all material and political support to Russia's war effort.
"This includes the transfer of dual-use materials, such as weapons components, equipment, and raw materials that serve as inputs for Russia's defence sector. The PRC cannot enable the largest war in Europe in recent history without this negatively impacting its interests and reputation, the NATO declaration said.
Lin also tried to play down strong EU and NATO criticism of Chinese troops taking part in joint military exercises with Belarus near the Polish border, saying that it is normal military cooperation, and does not target any specific country.
Meanwhile, Hungary came to the forefront saying it will not support NATO becoming an “anti-China” bloc. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto also said that Ukraine’s admission to the alliance would weaken unity within the group.
Even EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell said that NATO cannot afford to ignore the role China and North Korea are playing in the Ukraine war. "China and Russia's unlimited friendship" is very crucial, he said.
During the summit, NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said, "Support to Ukraine is not charity- it is our own security interest." Nato members pledged their support for Ukraine to join the bloc as well.