China urged NATO to cease escalating tensions in the Asia-Pacific region. “NATO should maintain its role as a regional defence organization and halt its efforts that stir tensions, propagate Cold War dynamics, and foster bloc confrontations,” stated Lin Jian, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, during a press briefing in Beijing.
The ministry criticized NATO’s expansion into Asia and its regional military enhancements as reflections of a Cold War mindset and ‘ideological bias.’
These remarks surfaced as leaders from South Korea, Japan, and New Zealand, along with other Asia-Pacific representatives, including Australia’s defence minister, convened in Washington for the impending NATO summit.
The summit, scheduled for July 9–11, marks the 75th anniversary of the military alliance.
