China hits back at US in response to recent North Atlantic Treaty Organisation meeting
China hit out at the United States, after President Joe Biden met with European NATO leaders to discuss the growing threat posed by the communist nation.
The NATO leaders agreed to put up a united front against China. They signed a communique, expressing concern about China’s policies towards Taiwan and Hong Kong.
However, China was less than impressed with the meeting, seeing it as a confrontational move.
“The U.S. is ill and very ill indeed.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said
“The G-7 had better take its pulse and come up with a prescription,” he said.
He also added the NATO meeting “exposes the bad intentions of the U.S. and a few others,” who he says are seeking to “expand differences and disagreements”.
NATO Leaders met in Brussels to make decisions on how to address the security challenges of today and tomorrow.
US President Joe Biden had wanted an even stronger response to China from the other world leaders. However, he settled for a modest condemnation.
The events of this week show that despite Donald Trump leaving the White House, Washington’s tone against China hasn’t changed.
They see China as a growing threat, and are building up a coalition around the world to try and contain China.
China says it won’t “sit back”
The communist nation warned NATO it won’t “sit back” in the face of any challenges.
The move illustrates the potential for tensions to escalate while the United States tries to convince its allies to take a tougher approach to the Asian nation.
🚨“The G7 had better take its pulse and come up with a prescription" … Here's why China called the U.S "very ill" 😷 pic.twitter.com/kDVpsU07NZ
In a statement, Beijing says it doesn’t pose a “systemic challenge” to any country.
According to a statement posted Tuesday on the website of its mission to the European Union, China added that NATO should not exaggerate Beijing’s military power.
NATO calls for measures to safeguard international and regional stability
The comments from Beijing come after NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told members of the media that NATO is “concerned by China’s coercive policies, which stand in contrast to the fundamental values enshrined in the Washington Treaty”
Stoltenberg cited the country’s rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal, military cooperation with Russia, and its use of disinformation as the reason for concern.
The communique released after the NATO meeting mentioned China 10 times, compared to just once after the last summit in 2019.
Russia was named more than 60 times this year. The document also said that the bloc “maintains a constructive dialogue with China where possible.”
