NATO Calls China A Systemic Challenge, Stoltenberg: We Must Be Ready

JAKARTA - The leaders of the member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) said that China presented a systemic challenge, and needed a firm attitude to deal with it, in a joint statement after the Brussels Summit, Belgium, Monday, June 14 yesterday.

On the occasion, the President of the United States (US) Joe Biden also urged his NATO colleagues to fight against China's authoritarianism with its increasing military power. This signifies a shift in the focus of the alliance which previously led to the Soviet Union/Russia.

This statement further highlighted China, after previously the Group of Seven (G7) countries issued statements on human rights in China and Taiwan.

"China's assertive ambition and behavior present a systemic challenge to the rules-based international order and areas relevant to the security of the alliance," said a joint statement by NATO leaders.

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said China's growing military presence from the Baltic to Africa, made NATO must be prepared.

"China is getting closer to us. We see them online, we see China in Africa, but we also see China investing heavily in our own critical infrastructure," he said, referring to ports and telecommunications networks.

Stoltenberg also said NATO leaders had agreed to increase their contribution to the alliance's joint budget. Most military spending in NATO is handled separately by member states.

"By agreeing to the NATO 2030 agenda, the leaders have taken the decision to make the alliance stronger for the future," Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference at the end of the summit, citing VOA.

While agreeing on a response to China's rise, from investments in European ports to plans to build military bases in Africa, NATO leaders are aware of the many repercussions associated with China.

To note, NATO pays attention to its economic relationship with China. For example, Germany's total trade with China in 2020 was more than 212 billion euros (257 billion US dollars), according to German government data. Meanwhile, China's total holdings in US Treasuries in March 2021 reached US$1.1 trillion and US total trade with China in 2020 reached US$559 billion.