China warns in opposition to ‘Asian NATO’ — RT World Information

Any try to arrange “an Asia-Pacific model of NATO” would solely convey extra turmoil, Beijing warns

NATO ought to cease on the lookout for “imaginary enemies” within the Asia-Pacific and by no means think about establishing a model of the bloc within the area, China’s envoy to the UN has mentioned.

“We firmly oppose sure parts clamoring for NATO’s involvement within the Asia-Pacific, or an Asia-Pacific model of NATO on the again of army alliances,” Zhang Jun warned at a UN Safety Council assembly on Tuesday.

The diplomat’s assertion got here after Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand have been invited for the primary time to attend the annual NATO summit, which opened on Tuesday in Madrid, Spain.

John Kirby, a senior White Home safety official, mentioned final week that the participation of the 4 nations was not an try to forge “an Asian model of NATO,” however “a sign of the linkage of world safety between Europe and the Indo-Pacific.”

Zhang urged NATO “to not use the Ukraine disaster as an excuse to stoke worldwide confrontation” and “to not search for imaginary enemies within the Asia-Pacific.”

“The long-outdated Chilly Warfare script mustn’t ever be reenacted within the Asia-Pacific. The sort of turmoil and battle which can be affecting components of the world should not be allowed to occur within the Asia-Pacific,” he added.

NATO Secretary Common Jens Stoltenberg mentioned this month that the bloc’s Strategic Idea, a key doc outlining the evaluation of the safety setting, would for the primary time embody the “challenges” posed by Beijing. A revised model of the doc might be adopted on the summit.

Particular person NATO members, such because the US and Britain, have repeatedly accused China of threatening Taiwan and customarily stirring up tensions in Asia. Beijing, in the meantime, accused the West of meddling in its home affairs and of army escalation within the area.

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