NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed deep concern over China’s “massive military expansion,” stating that this action is increasing the likelihood of Chinese military aggression against Taiwan.
According to Rutte, China is undertaking “massive” military expansion, raising the possibility of a military strike on Taiwan. In the event of a Taiwan Strait conflict, there is no ruling out the potential involvement of Russia, thereby posing a threat to European security.
Prior to the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands on Monday, June 23, reporters asked whether NATO was prepared for the worst-case scenario of a Chinese attack on Taiwan. Rutte responded by saying that NATO is closely collaborating with four “enhanced partner countries” – Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
“We have established close relations with these countries precisely because of their deep concerns about China’s rapid military expansion,” he stated. Rutte emphasized that these nations are all “very, very concerned about China’s military expansion.”
Rutte pointed out that none of the world’s top ten defense companies were Chinese in the past, but now three to five Chinese firms have entered the top ten. He indicated that China’s military expansion is driven by its rapidly growing defense industry capabilities, stating that “of course, they are not doing this just to hold a parade in Beijing.”
Rutte bluntly stated, “We are all very concerned about the situation in Taiwan.” He remarked that if the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, decides to use force against Taiwan, it is almost certain that he would inform Russian President Putin beforehand to “ensure that this Chinese partner can help contain us in Europe.”
Rutte highlighted the importance for all countries to maintain readiness at all times and not be naïve. He stressed that a clear understanding of the reality of threats is crucial, which is why increasing defense spending is imperative.
“This is why NATO does not engage selectively, and there are no unilateral agreements because all members must share responsibility,” Rutte concluded.
In recent years, China has been increasing the frequency and scale of deployments of its aircraft and naval ships near Taiwan. Despite not ruling out the possibility of “reunification” with Taiwan by force, Taiwan, a democratic nation, firmly rejects such a notion. Taiwanese officials have warned that China may use military exercises as a cover for a surprise attack in the Taiwan Strait.
The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) of the United States released the “Global Threat Assessment Report” last month, suggesting that China could seize Taiwan’s outlying islands such as Kinmen and Matsu to intimidate the Taiwanese government. The report believes that forcibly taking these islands and attempting to annex Taiwan is one of Beijing’s current military options.
If a conflict were to erupt, the United States might swiftly intervene as it not only has security treaties with several countries but also has long provided Taiwan with advanced weaponry and has a legal obligation to ensure Taiwan’s security.
During the NATO summit in The Hague on Wednesday, alliance leaders unanimously agreed to significantly increase defense spending to 5% and reiterated their commitment to collective defense as stipulated in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, stating that “an attack against one ally is considered an attack against all allies.” This commitment not only responds to the demands of U.S. President Trump in his second term but also reflects growing concerns in Europe about security threats following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
President Trump stated his support for NATO’s fundamental commitment: an attack on one member state is an attack on all member states.