NATO Secretary General Says China Should Stop Helping Russia If It Wants To Make Good Relations With The West

Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg. (Source: NATO)

JAKARTA - Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday, China should stop supporting Russia's war in Ukraine if it wants to enjoy good relations with the West.

Not only that, Stoltenberg also warned with unusual firm words that they could not do two ways.

During a visit to Berlin, the head of the Western military alliance said Beijing's aid was critical to Moscow's war efforts, as it supported Russia's war economy by sharing advanced technologies such as semiconductors.

"Last year, Russia imported 90 percent of its microelectronics from China, which is used to produce missiles, tanks, and aircraft. China is also working to provide Russia with better satellite and imaging capabilities," Stoltenberg said.

"China says it wants good relations with the West. At the same time, Beijing has continued to ignite the largest armed conflict in Europe since the Second World War. They cannot do it in two directions," Stoltenberg warned.

Furthermore, Stoltenberg warned Western allies not to rely on the Bamboo Curtain country as much as on Russia.

"In the past, we made mistakes by relying on Russian oil and gas," he said.

"We must not repeat the same mistakes as China. Depending on the money, the raw materials, the technology, dependence makes us vulnerable," he explained.

Beijing is known to have strengthened trade and military ties with Moscow in recent years, as the United States and its allies imposed sanctions on both of them, particularly Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine.

China-Russia trade hit a record $240.1 billion in 2023, up 26.3 percent from the previous year, according to Chinese customs data. Chinese exports to Russia jumped 46.9 percent in 2023, while imports from Russia rose 13 percent.