China on NATO Summit: "Will Not Stand By If Chinese Interests Are Harmed"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Chinese government has stated that it "will not stand idly by" if situations arise that harm China's interests, in response to Asian-Pacific countries including South Korea and Japan expanding exchanges with Western countries by attending the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit.

Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular briefing on the 30th regarding the attendance of Asia-Pacific countries such as South Korea and Japan at the NATO summit, "The development of relations between countries should naturally contribute to world peace and stability and should not be hostile to or harm the interests of third parties."

Spokesperson Zhao further emphasized, "China will closely monitor NATO's related trends (connections with Asia-Pacific countries) and will not stand idly by in situations that harm China's interests."

He added, "At the same time, South Korea and Japan are important countries in Asia and mutually significant cooperative partners of China, sharing extensive common interests. China hopes that all relevant parties will jointly work to develop bilateral relations and safeguard the peaceful and stable development of Asia."

Regarding NATO's new strategic concept document that defines China as a security challenge, he expressed, "We are seriously concerned and firmly opposed."

He warned, "It tarnishes China's foreign policy, arbitrarily comments on China's normal military development and defense policy, incites confrontation and opposition, and is full of Cold War thinking and ideological prejudice. We urge the cessation of dangerous actions that disrupt the Asia-Pacific region."

On the 29th (local time), NATO adopted the '2022 Strategic Concept' at the summit held in Madrid, stating, "China's explicit ambitions and coercive policies challenge our interests, security, and values," explicitly identifying China as a 'challenge.'