China is responding with an attack to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg's accusations that it refuses to condemn Russian aggression and sides with Moscow. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian accused the alliance of hypocrisy and destabilization of Europe, Asia, and the entire world. He also calls on NATO to stop "spreading disinformation" about their country.
"We see that China is unwilling to condemn Russian aggression and has joined Moscow in questioning a nation's right to choose its path. At a time when authoritarian powers are seeking to attack the international order, it is even more imperative that democracies stick together and protect common values," Jens Stoltenberg said last week.
"For the first time, we will have to consider China's growing influence and aggressive policies on the world stage. It poses a systemic challenge to our security and democracy," Stoltenberg pointed out.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian was asked about Stoltenberg's comments by Xinhua news agency during a press conference.
"The NATO chief disregards facts, mixes black and white and makes baseless accusations, slander and attacks towards China. He has made ill-advised comments about our foreign policy, emphasized the "Chinese threat," and recently even tried to force China to act with confidence. China rejects the accusations. We have repeatedly made solemn statements at NATO," Lijian said.
He also accused NATO of sticking to an outdated security concept for a long time and engaging in confrontations between blocs straight out of Cold War textbooks. He added that the role of the alliance had been reduced to a tool in the hands of the hegemony of "a certain state". Most likely, he meant the United States.
"NATO claims to be a defense organization, yet it continually creates trouble and generates conflict. They have asked individual countries to adhere to international politics' basic norms. At the same time they have waged wars against sovereign states, shelling them, resulting in displacement and civilian deaths," China's spokesman said in general terms.
Zhao Lijian also called on NATO to stop spreading disinformation and refrain from making provocative remarks targeting China. Lijian added that the alliance should abandon a "confrontational approach based on creating ideological lines."
"NATO has destabilized Europe. The alliance should stop trying to destabilize Asia and the whole world," said the Chinese spokesman.
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