NATO Accuses China of Being an 'Enabler' in Russia-Ukraine War
NATO members accused China of being a “decisive enabler” in the Russian war against Ukraine in a written declaration released Wednesday.
The bloc said that Beijing’s “no limits” partnership and large-scale support for Russia’s defense industrial base has resulted in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) becoming an enabler in the war.
“The deepening strategic partnership between Russia and the PRC and their mutually reinforcing attempts to undercut and reshape the rules-based international order are a cause for profound concern,” according to NATO’s declaration. “…We call on the PRC…to cease all material and political support to Russia’s war effort.”
The statement also pointed to the Chinese government’s nuclear arsenal, malicious cyber and hybrid activities, and space capabilities, indicating the military alliance’s growing focus on the nation.
The 32-nation bloc approved the comments during its 75th anniversary summit, which is being held this week in Washington, D.C. One of the stated goals of the summit is boosting support for Ukraine, both in the war and as a candidate for inclusion into NATO.
“We will continue to support [Ukraine] on its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership,” the statement said.
China rejected the description of being an “enabler,” according to a spokesperson for China's Mission to the European Union that was cited by ABC News. The spokesperson insisted that China does not give Russia military aid and only maintained trade ties throughout the war; however, the spokesperson did not condemn Russia's invasion.
Luka Ignac, assistant director for the Atlantic Council's Transatlantic Security Initiative, said the comments from NATO were “significant.”
“By recognizing the mutually reinforcing attempts by Russia and the PRC to undercut and reshape the rules-based international order, NATO lays a crucial foundation for formulating strategies to address and counteract this burgeoning nexus,” Ignac explained. “This statement signals a collective commitment among member states to not only monitor but also actively engage in identifying and implementing measures to mitigate the influence of this partnership.”
Since the outbreak of the war, CNN reported that China has increased trade relations with Russia.
“China has surpassed the European Union to become Russia’s top trade partner, offering a crucial lifeline to its economy, which has been heavily sanctioned in the wake of that invasion, while the two nuclear-armed neighbors have continued to hold joint military exercises,” CNN said.
The two nations also share an opposition to NATO expansion.
In response to NATO’s comments, China accused the military alliance of overreaching and of fomenting a confrontation in the Indo-Pacific region. On Thursday, the Associated Press reported that a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry warned NATO to not introduce “chaos” into Asia, noting the bloc’s increasing interest in the area.
One example of NATO’s efforts to build relationships in Asia is at the summit, which includes representatives from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea as attendees.
While the summit progressed this week in Washington, China worked on its own alliances, including partnering with Russian ally Belarus for an ongoing joint military exercise and reaching out to two NATO member leaders—Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, according to Politico.