Don’t Bring Chaos to Asia: China Warns NATO Amid Decisive War Enabler Row

China has issued a stern warning to NATO, cautioning the alliance against spreading chaos to Asia, amid accusations of being a "decisive enabler" of Russia's war in Ukraine. This sharp rebuke highlights China's determination to resist the strengthening ties between NATO members and Asian nations.

In a statement made by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, China accused NATO of seeking security at the expense of others and underscored its opposition to NATO's growing relationships with countries such as Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. 

Lin criticized NATO for "hyping up China’s responsibility on the Ukraine issue" and suggested that the alliance had "sinister motives" behind such claims. 

He maintained that China holds a fair and objective stance on the Ukraine conflict.

China has notably diverged from the United States and its European allies over the war in Ukraine, refusing to condemn Russia’s invasion. 

Instead, China has maintained robust trade relations with Russia, which have grown since the conflict began, helping to mitigate the impact of Western sanctions on Moscow. 

NATO, in a recent statement from its summit in Washington, labeled China a key enabler of Russia's war due to its extensive support for Russia's defense industrial base and their "no-limits partnership."

Lin defended China’s trade with Russia as legitimate and consistent with World Trade Organization rules. 

He argued that NATO’s concept of security compromises the security of other nations, echoing Russia’s claims that NATO expansion poses a threat to its own security. 

The conflict in Ukraine has, ironically, strengthened NATO, leading to new members such as Sweden and Finland.

China is also wary of NATO's expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific region, which is evident from the participation of leaders or deputies from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea in the recent NATO summit. 

Lin urged NATO to cease interfering in China’s internal affairs and stop tarnishing China’s image, warning against creating chaos in the Asia-Pacific region after having already done so in Europe.

This warning comes at a time when Chinese troops are in Belarus for joint drills near the border with Poland, a NATO member. 

These exercises, the first with Belarus, a close ally of Russia, underscore the deepening military cooperation between China and Russia-aligned nations. 

Lin described the joint training as a normal military operation not directed at any particular country.

China is a significant player in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which includes Russia, several Central Asian nations, India, and most recently, Belarus. 

The SCO, with its strong military component, aims to counter Western influence in the region, though it also highlights rising tensions over Chinese influence in areas Russia considers within its sphere of political interest.

Earlier this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a meeting of SCO leaders in Kazakhstan. 

During this meeting, Putin reiterated his demand for Ukraine to withdraw its troops from Russian-occupied territories, a demand Ukraine has firmly rejected. 

This aligns with a Chinese peace proposal that conspicuously omits any mention of returning Ukrainian territory to Kyiv.

The close alignment of Chinese and Russian foreign policies against the West further cements their partnership, even as Russia becomes increasingly dependent on China for the purchase of its oil and gas, which are crucial to its economy. 

As NATO and China continue to clash over their roles and responsibilities in global conflicts, the geopolitical landscape remains fraught with tension, raising concerns about the potential for increased instability in both Europe and Asia.