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China’s Foreign Ministry has sharply criticised NATO for inflating military spending and interfering in Asia-Pacific affairs, rejecting claims that China supports Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
China accused NATO of inflaming international tensions and misrepresenting its military policy in a firm response to comments made by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. At a regular press conference on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun denounced NATO’s call for increased military investment and its growing presence beyond Europe.
"Some in NATO, by playing up international and regional tensions and slandering China’s normal military buildup, seek nothing but excuses to allow NATO to drastically grow its military spending," Guo said.
He criticised the alliance for pushing defence investment to 5 percent of GDP under the banner of building a "more lethal NATO", questioning its true objective and accusing it of overstepping its geographic mandate.
Despite being a regional alliance under international law, Guo noted, NATO continues to assert that developments in the Asia-Pacific are linked to Euro-Atlantic security, allowing it to justify expanding its reach eastward.
"NATO countries already account for 55 percent of the world’s total military spending in 2024. Yet they’re still required to raise defence investment. The world is not blind to NATO’s calculations, and countries in the Asia-Pacific are certainly wary of it," he added.
Guo also rejected accusations that China is backing Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine. He said China has consistently promoted peace talks, has never supplied weapons to either side, and maintains tight control over dual-use exports.
“China’s objective and impartial position and constructive role have been widely recognised by the international community, while NATO’s disinformation cannot deceive people around the world,” he stated.
Guo urged NATO to reconsider its approach, abandon Cold War thinking, and stop fuelling global confrontation. He stressed China’s commitment to sovereignty and peace, describing the country as “a builder of world peace” with a responsible international track record.
“Time for NATO to get its perception right about China and stop manipulating issues on China. China will firmly uphold sovereignty, security, and development interests,” Guo concluded.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he thinks there is a chance of a peace being reached with Ukraine. He told the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia that he believed there was "a chance of finding a solution," to the conflict.
The U.S. has launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran, targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sites as Tehran retaliated against U.S. positions across the region, while Iranian officials said at least five people were killed and dozens wounded at a wedding near Sirik.
The Iranian Health Ministry said at least 18 people were killed and 142 others injured in U.S. airstrikes carried out between 30 August and 2 September.
The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaia Kallas says the bloc will tighten enforcement of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine. EU foreign ministers were meeting in Ireland following renewed Russian strikes on cities across Ukraine.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 3rd of September, covering the latest developments.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Russia then Ukraine over the weekend, Russian state news agency TASS has reported, citing an unnamed source. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also said American envoys will visit the capitals of both countries.
Pacific Island leaders expressed concern about China's Pacific missile test at their annual summit, though Nauru formally dissented, in a meeting largely overshadowed by Beijing's objections to Taiwan's presence.
China’s southern coastal provinces of Fujian and Guangdong are bracing for more torrential rain after Typhoon Saudel triggered widespread flooding, swept away vehicles and caused a three-storey building to collapse.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 4th of September, covering the latest developments.
The Trump administration pressured U.S. space companies not to attend a high-profile space summit in Paris organised by French President Emmanuel Macron, prompting a last-minute reshuffle and the cancellation of some planned announcements, according to sources familiar with the matter.
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