Illutration: Liu Rui/GT

The NATO Washington Summit Declaration is filled with Cold War mentality and belligerent rhetoric, and the China-related paragraphs are provocative with obvious lies and smears. China firmly rejects and deplores these accusations and has lodged serious representations with NATO, a spokesperson from the Chinese Mission to the EU said on Thursday.

The spokesperson's remarks came after NATO asserted that China has become a "decisive enabler" of Russia-Ukraine conflict and poses "systemic challenges" to Euro-Atlantic security in its summit declaration, Reuters reported. The Wednesday declaration also made accusations against China on cyber, space, nuclear and other issues.

The Chinese spokesperson refuted NATO's claims, emphasizing that China's position on Ukraine is open and above board, and it is known to all that China is not the architect of the Ukraine crisis. China aims to promote peace talks and seek political settlement, and this position is endorsed and commended by the broader global community. 

China is a country that keeps its words and never provides lethal weapons to either party of the conflict, and exercises strict export control on dual-use goods including civilian drones. Normal trade flow between China and Russia does not target any third party, nor should it be subject to disruption or coercion, the spokesperson said.

"The Ukraine crisis has prolonged for so long. But who is adding fuel to the fire? Who is fanning the flames? And who is seeking selfish gains? The answer is clear to everyone. We urge NATO to listen carefully to the international community and heed just voices. Instead of scapegoating others, NATO should reflect on itself, take real actions to defuse the situation and solve the problem," the spokesperson noted.

The spokesperson then stressed that Asia-Pacific region is a place for peaceful development, not a wrestling ground for geopolitical competition. However, NATO keeps playing up the interlink between Europe's security and the security in Asia-Pacific. "We urge NATO to stay within its role as a regional defensive organization in the North-Atlantic. NATO should not become the disrupter of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific or a tool used by certain power to maintain hegemony."

China is a force for world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of international order, the spokesperson emphasized. China asks NATO to correct its misperceptions on China, and abandon Cold War mentality and zero-sum approach. NATO should stop hyping up the so-called China threat and provoking confrontation and rivalry, and do more to contribute to world peace and stability, the spokesperson said.

Global Times