China: "NATO, a product of the Cold War... Expansion embodies collective politics"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] China has supported Russia's claim, which is in conflict with the West, by criticizing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as a 'product of the Cold War.'

Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular briefing on the 26th, in response to a question about NATO's expansion including Ukraine's membership, "NATO is a product of the Cold War era, and NATO's expansion is a concentrated manifestation of collective politics." Russia claims that Ukraine's NATO membership threatens its national security through NATO's eastward expansion.

Spokesperson Zhao asserted, "NATO, as the world's largest military alliance, should abandon outdated Cold War thinking and ideological prejudice, and do things that help maintain safety and stability."

He continued, "China opposes various small groups and political conflicts that use neighbors as pawns (yilinwuhua), and believes that all countries and peoples should jointly enjoy security and collectively address various issues and challenges."