China Condemns NATO's Perception, Accuses Expansionism, and Vows to Defend Sovereignty

The Foreign Ministry has called upon NATO to rectify its mischaracterization of China and cease its manipulation of China-related issues. The ministry emphasized its unwavering commitment to protecting its sovereign security and development interests, while also continuing to contribute to global peace and stability.

These remarks were made by the ministry's spokesman, Guo Jiakun, in response to comments from NATO's Secretary-General. The Secretary-General had urged increased spending, citing concerns about Russia, China's military growth, and the support provided by North Korea, China, and Iran to the war effort in Ukraine.

Guo stated that the exaggeration of global and regional tensions, along with the vilification of China's normal military development, serves as a pretext for NATO to significantly increase military spending, overextend its reach, and expand its influence into the Asia-Pacific region. He noted that despite already accounting for a substantial portion of global military expenditure, NATO is still pushing its members to increase spending further.

The spokesman highlighted that while presenting itself as a regional defensive alliance, NATO continues to exceed the geographical boundaries outlined in its treaty. He added that regional countries are wary of these actions.

Regarding the Ukraine crisis, Guo reiterated that China has not provided weapons to any party involved and strictly controls the export of dual-use articles. He emphasized that China's objective and fair stance, along with its constructive role, has been recognized by the international community.

The Foreign Ministry urged NATO to cease actions that exacerbate conflict and instead focus on addressing the root causes of instability. The ministry called on the bloc to abandon its outdated Cold War mentality, bloc confrontation, and zero-sum game approach.