China accuses NATO of screwing up Europe and causing conflict

China accuses NATO of screwing up Europe and causing conflict in Asia

China’s foreign ministry on Thursday accused NATO of “messing up” Europe and provoking conflict in the AsiaPacific region after Britain’s foreign secretary told China to “play by the rules,” news agency RFI reported.

“NATO, a military organization in the North Atlantic, has come to the AsiaPacific region in recent years to shed weight and provoke conflict. They screwed up Europe and now they want to screw up Asia?” said Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry.

problems with Great Britain

On Wednesday, British Chancellor Liz Truss again called for strengthening NATO after the war in Ukraine, saying coordinated steps to isolate Russia from the world economy have proved that market access for democratic countries is no longer an issue as it used to be .

“Countries have to follow the rules. And that includes China,” she said.

2 of 3 Liz Truss, British Chancellor, at a press conference in February 2022 — Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry/Disclosure/REUTERS

Liz Truss, British Chancellor, at a press conference in February 2022 Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry/Disclosure/REUTERS

In his speech, Truss said NATO must forestall threats in the IndoPacific and broaden its perspective to democracies outside of its members, such as Taiwan, which Beijing says is a breakaway Chinese province that needs to be retaken.

China has refused to condemn the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, one of its closest allies. The move drew criticism and European calls to use his influence in Moscow to change the course of the war.

“We have shown with Russia what decisions we are ready to take when international rules are violated,” Wang said.

3 out of 3 NATO member country flags raised in front of the Brussels headquarters — Photo: Olivier Matthys/Associated Press

Flags of NATO member countries fly in front of the Brussels headquarters — Photo: Olivier Matthys/Associated Press

According to British newspaper The Guardian, a recent EUChina summit was tense when Chinese officials rejected pressure from European counterparts to help end the war. Premier Li Keqiang said Beijing will seek peace “in its own way.”

Earlier, Secretary of State Truss told Australian media that she does not rule out that China may use the invasion of Russia as an opportunity for its own act of aggression.