Tokyo — China’s assertiveness and growing cooperation with Russia pose a threat not only to Asia but also to Europe, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday, urging NATO’s greater strength in the Indo-Pacific region. Asked for cooperation and more “friends”. Stoltenberg said China is increasing its investment in nuclear weapons and long-range missiles without providing transparency or engaging in meaningful dialogue on nuclear arms control. Threats to Taiwanan autonomous island that it claims as its own territory.
“The fact that Russia and China are getting closer and China’s heavy investment and new advanced military capabilities underscores just that. China is a threatalso poses a challenge to NATO allies,” Stoltenberg told an audience at Keio University in Tokyo. “Security is not regional, it is global.
“NATO needs to make sure we have friends,” he said. “It is important to work more closely with our partners in the Indo-Pacific region.”
Calling this “a pivotal moment for NATO and Japan,” Stoltenberg said China and Russia were “lead to an authoritarian backlash It goes against the order based on international rules. ”
Stoltenberg spoke of the victory of Russian President Vladimir Putin. his war against Ukraine A dictatorship will send the message that brute force can achieve its goals. “This is dangerous,” he said.
“China is watching closely and learning lessons that could influence future decisions,” Stoltenberg said at a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
“China has greatly increased its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, bullied its neighbors, threatened Taiwan, sought to control critical infrastructure, and spread misinformation about the war in NATO and Ukraine.” They are not our enemies, but we must understand the scale of the challenge and work together to meet it.”
He said the alliance will continue to engage with China on areas of common concern such as climate change.
General HR McMaster, a retired CBS News contributor and national security adviser to former President Trump, recently said the U.S. military needs to be “ready” for a possible war with China. said there is. He endorsed a memo from Air Mobile Command Commander General Mike Minihan warning that the United States and China could be at war within the next two years.
McMaster said Minihan’s remarks “are likely based on a hunch that we are in a time of increasing danger, and I think he is right about that.” Referring specifically to Taiwan’s elections scheduled for 2024, he said, “I think it’s more likely that if China’s leadership doesn’t get the results they want in Taiwan.”
Most importantly, Chinese President Xi Jinping says he will do it. Many of his speeches seem to prepare the Chinese people for war. It’s our military’s job,” McMaster said. “
Stoltenberg and Kishida held talks and agreed to strengthen their partnership in security in cyberspace, space, defense and other fields.
In addition to Japan, NATO is stepping up “practical cooperation” with Australia, New Zealand and South Korea on maritime cybersecurity and other areas, and increasing participation of leaders and ministers in NATO meetings, he said. rice field.
Prime Minister Kishida announced on Tuesday plans to open a Japanese representative office in NATO.
Japan, already a close ally of the United States, has recently Expand military ties with other Indo-Pacific nations As well as Britain, Europe and NATO amid growing security threats from China and North Korea.
The Japanese government quickly joined US-led economic sanctions against Russia’s war in Ukraine, providing Ukrainians with humanitarian aid and non-combat defense equipment. Japan fears that Russia’s aggression in Europe could be reflected in Asia.
Takashi Aoyama/AP
Stoltenberg arrived in Japan from South Korea late Monday and asked Seoul to provide direct military assistance to Ukraine to repel a long-running Russian aggression.
North Korea has condemned Stoltenberg’s visits to South Korea and Japan, and NATO has put its “military forces into the region” to pressure America’s Asian allies to arm Ukraine. said he was trying to put
North Korea also criticized increased cooperation between NATO and US allies in Asia as a process to create an “Asian version of NATO”, which it said would increase tensions in the region.
