China is a ‘key enabler’ of Ukraine war, NATO says; but Beijing claims it did not cause crisis – Firstpost

In a sharp remark against NATO’s Washington summit declaration, China warned the international alliance against provoking “confrontation” over its relations with Russia. On Wednesday, the defense bloc called Beijing a “key enabler” of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

China sharply criticized NATO, saying the statement was full of “warlike rhetoric … lies, incitement and slander.”

“NATO should stop exaggerating the so-called threat from China and provoke confrontation and rivalry, and do more to contribute to world peace and stability,” a spokesman for Beijing’s mission to the European Union said in a statement on Thursday.

“As we all know, China is not the cause of the crisis in Ukraine,” the Chinese official added. The spokesman further stressed that Beijing has always worked to promote peace talks between the two warring nations.

“China’s core position on the Ukraine issue is to promote peace talks and a political settlement, which is widely recognized and appreciated by the international community,” the spokesman said.

NATO statement criticizes Russia, but also drives China crazy

Concerns about growing relations between Russia and China were at the forefront of the final communiqué adopted by the 32 NATO members at the summit in Washington. The statement, which is considered the alliance’s most serious rebuke of Beijing, also raised concerns about Beijing’s growing nuclear arsenal and its capabilities in space.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the statement called on China to “cease all material and political support for Russia’s war effort.” The group also recognized that the Indo-Pacific is “important for NATO.” However, it did not suggest that the group would play a strong role in the region.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed its displeasure at NATO’s growing interest in Asia and called on the international bloc to “stay out” of the Asia-Pacific region.

NATO’s final communiqué also accused China of being behind persistent malicious cyber and hybrid activities, including disinformation.

“I think the message that NATO has sent from this summit is very strong and very clear, and we clearly define China’s responsibility in enabling Russia’s war,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in his response to the statement.

Tensions over Russian-Chinese relations reached an all-time high after Chinese troops were seen conducting joint military exercises in Belarus earlier this week. Poland warned about the issue and stressed that it is closely monitoring the matter.

“The Ministry of Defense is aware of the risk that the operations in question could be used for disinformation and propaganda purposes,” the Polish Defense Ministry said. AFP on Wednesday. This was the first time that Beijing held joint military exercises with Belarus since the start of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

With inputs from agencies.