NATO increasingly believes that Europe and the Indo-Pacific region are interdependent, which is also attributed to the growing hostile behavior of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The White House revealed that the NATO summit held this week will name Beijing in its communiqué, directly criticizing its support for Russia’s invasion behavior.
NATO leaders gathered for a week-long meeting in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, with the agenda focusing on the Russia-Ukraine issue and European defense spending. It is reported that developing a clearer strategy towards China will also be a top priority for participants at the 2024 summit.
During the Ukraine conflict, CCP’s significant support to Russia has greatly deteriorated its relations with the West and further drawn NATO into the Indo-Pacific region.
A sign of this is that for the third consecutive time, the summit has invited leaders from Indo-Pacific countries – Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand – who are not NATO member states.
Among various plans discussed by the 32 NATO member countries and their close allies in the Asia-Pacific region, Beijing has gained an increasingly important position.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg wrote an article a few days before the summit emphasizing that “security is not a regional issue, but a global one.”
He further added, “Security in Europe affects Asia, and security in Asia affects Europe.” Stoltenberg is about to step down from his position.
In a declaration by NATO leaders at the end of 2019, concerns about China under CCP rule were expressed for the first time. In 2022, NATO’s key strategic document, “Strategic Concept,” mentioned Beijing for the first time. NATO stated that due to CCP’s military buildup, economic coercion tactics, and strategic partnership with Russia, its “openly stated ambitions and coercive policies challenge our interests, security, and values.”
Apart from assisting Russia in invading Ukraine, NATO member countries accuse CCP of engaging in espionage activities, conducting cyberattacks, and spreading disinformation within their borders. Additionally, Beijing uses its economic strength to coerce small European countries that support Taiwan.
White House officials stated during a NATO summit briefing that specific language targeting CCP will be included in the final communiqué as the centerpiece of the summit.
The Wall Street Journal also reported that NATO diplomats indicated that NATO plans to criticize China’s support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the summit communiqué.
Avril Haines, Director of the U.S. National Intelligence Agency, discussed this issue with NATO ambassadors during a comprehensive briefing in June.
Of the microelectronic products imported by Russia in 2023, 90% come from China, and Russia uses these components for missiles, tanks, and aircraft. Furthermore, these products have helped Russia enhance its satellite and imaging technology.
Julianne Smith, the U.S. Ambassador to NATO, told Bloomberg on July 2, “Within NATO, we ensure that the fact that Beijing is no longer a neutral player is exposed, and warn of the risks of Chinese support for Russia in this unjustified aggressive war.”
She mentioned, “Beijing has taken sides.” Smith said, “If China reduces its supply to Moscow, we believe this will have a significant impact on Russia’s ability to conduct ground operations in Ukraine.”
The latest report suggests that according to insiders cited by Bloomberg, CCP is manufacturing and testing deadly attack drones for Russia. These drones, modeled after Iran’s “Witness” (Shahed) drones, could serve as lethal military aid.
If CCP directly provides weapons to Russia, it would mark an unprecedented escalation and almost certainly trigger harsher actions from Western countries towards China, such as sanctions.
Stoltenberg stated that while CCP supports Russia, it still hopes to maintain good relations with the West, especially economically with Europe.
“Beijing can’t have it both ways,” he said. “Unless Beijing changes course, at some point, allies will need to make China pay.”
In a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in June, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was questioned by a Chinese military officer about whether the U.S. wants to establish an “Asian NATO” under the pretext of NATO’s eastward expansion causing the Ukraine crisis.
Austin immediately responded that he disagreed with the view that NATO expansion led to the “Ukraine crisis,” receiving applause from the attendees.
Breaking Defense, a U.S. military website, reported on Tuesday that Austin’s rebuttal to the Chinese officer received such warm approval in Asia. It should be remembered that this was an audience in the Asia-Pacific region, not a European security forum.
“As Austin continued to point out that Putin is the aggressor, not Ukraine or NATO, the mainly Asia-focused audience nodded in agreement – indicating that as NATO discusses Pacific issues this week, the U.S. will find many friends in that region.”