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Nato summit: Nato must face up to China's rise, alliance chief says | Nato summit: Nato must face up to China's rise, alliance chief says |
(32 minutes later) | |
Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the military alliance didn't want a Cold War with China | Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the military alliance didn't want a Cold War with China |
The head of Nato has urged members to respond to China's rise ahead of a key summit designed to shore up US support for the western military alliance. | |
Nato leaders are expected to issue a statement branding China a security risk after they meet in Belgium on Monday. | Nato leaders are expected to issue a statement branding China a security risk after they meet in Belgium on Monday. |
Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the summit was a "pivotal moment" for the alliance. | Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the summit was a "pivotal moment" for the alliance. |
It is US President Joe Biden's first Nato meeting since taking office. | It is US President Joe Biden's first Nato meeting since taking office. |
Nato is a powerful political and military alliance between 30 European and North American countries. It was established after World War Two in response to the expansion of the Soviet Union. | |
In recent years, the alliance has come under strain as leaders have debated its purpose and funding. | In recent years, the alliance has come under strain as leaders have debated its purpose and funding. |
Tensions grew during the presidency of Donald Trump, who complained about his country's financial contributions to the alliance and questioned US commitment to defend European partners. | Tensions grew during the presidency of Donald Trump, who complained about his country's financial contributions to the alliance and questioned US commitment to defend European partners. |
But in contrast, his successor Mr Biden has sought to reassert American backing for the 72-year-old alliance. | |
Biden says America is back at the table | Biden says America is back at the table |
On Sunday, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the Nato talks would focus on collective security, including standing up to China and its rapid military rise. | On Sunday, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the Nato talks would focus on collective security, including standing up to China and its rapid military rise. |
"We're not entering a new Cold War and China is not our adversary, not our enemy," Mr Stoltenberg told reporters at Nato headquarters ahead of the summit. | "We're not entering a new Cold War and China is not our adversary, not our enemy," Mr Stoltenberg told reporters at Nato headquarters ahead of the summit. |
"But we need to address together, as the alliance, the challenges that the rise of China poses to our security." | "But we need to address together, as the alliance, the challenges that the rise of China poses to our security." |
Climate change, cyber-security, Russia, and the withdrawal of Nato forces from Afghanistan - the alliance's longest overseas deployment - will also be on the agenda. | Climate change, cyber-security, Russia, and the withdrawal of Nato forces from Afghanistan - the alliance's longest overseas deployment - will also be on the agenda. |
Why is Nato focusing on China? | |
China is one of the world's leading economic and military powers, whose ruling Communist Party has a tight grip on political life and much of society. | |
Nato has become increasingly concerned about the growing military capabilities of China, which it sees as a threat to the security and democratic values of its members. | |
In recent years, the alliance has grown wary of China's activities in Africa, where it has set up army bases, and joint military exercises with Russia. | |
What is Nato? | What is Nato? |
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, known as Nato, is the world's most powerful regional defence alliance | The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, known as Nato, is the world's most powerful regional defence alliance |
It was set up in 1949, after World War Two, to counter the threat of communist expansion | It was set up in 1949, after World War Two, to counter the threat of communist expansion |
It was founded on the principle of collective defence between allies | It was founded on the principle of collective defence between allies |
It originally had 12 members, but now has 30 | It originally had 12 members, but now has 30 |
Read more about Nato | Read more about Nato |
Nato explained in 80 seconds | Nato explained in 80 seconds |
On Monday, Mr Stoltenberg said China was "coming closer" to Nato in terms of its economic, military and technological capabilities. | |
That assessment was echoed by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who said there is a need to manage the challenges posed by China. | |
"When it comes to China, I don't think anybody around the table wants to descend into a new Cold War with China," Mr Johnson said on arrival at the Nato summit. | |
Diplomats told Reuters news agency that the Nato summit's final statement - known as a communique - would not call China an adversary. However, it will refer to China as a "systemic" challenge to the security of Nato members, Reuters reported. | |
"China will feature in the (Nato) communique in a more robust way than we've ever seen before," said Mr Sullivan, President Biden's top security adviser. | |
Nato's tough message on China followed criticism of the country by the G7, a group of major economies that met for a summit in England last week. | |
In a communique G7 leaders scolded China over alleged human rights abuses and demanded a transparent investigation of the origins of Covid-19 in the country. | |
In response, China accused the G7 of "lies, rumours and baseless accusations" in a statement through its embassy in the UK. |