This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57466210
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
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 |
(about 3 hours 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 at a summit designed to shore up US support for the Western alliance. | |
The summit is expected to issue a statement describing China's behaviour as a "systemic challenge" after the meeting in Belgium. | |
Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the meeting 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 threat of communist expansion. | |
Biden says America is back at the table | Biden says America is back at the table |
Nato: US and Europe are safer standing together | Nato: US and Europe are safer standing together |
US imposes sanctions on Turkey over Russia weapons | US imposes sanctions on Turkey over Russia weapons |
In recent years, the alliance came under strain as leaders 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 the US commitment to defend European partners. | |
President Joe Biden (R) spoke to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the summit | |
In contrast, his successor Mr Biden has sought to reassert American backing for the 72-year-old alliance. | |
"I want to make it clear: Nato is critically important for US interests," Mr Biden said as he arrived at the summit on Monday. | "I want to make it clear: Nato is critically important for US interests," Mr Biden said as he arrived at the summit on Monday. |
His country, he said, had a "sacred obligation" to observe Article 5 of Nato's founding treaty, which commits members to defend each other from attack. | |
Why is Nato focusing on China? | |
According to a draft of the summit's communiqué (concluding statement) seen by news agencies, China's "stated ambitions and assertive behaviour present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to Alliance security". | |
A Chinese submarine on parade (file image) | |
The draft document says China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal, is "opaque" in the modernisation of its military and is co-operating militarily with Russia. | |
"We remain concerned with China's frequent lack of transparency and use of disinformation," it adds. | |
President Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said the Nato talks would focus on collective security, including standing up to China and its rapid military rise. | President Biden's 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." |
China is one of the world's leading military and economic powers, whose ruling Communist Party has a tight grip on politics, daily 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. | 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 also grown wary of China's activities in Africa, where it has set up army bases. | |
Climate change, cyber-security, Russia, and the withdrawal of Nato forces from Afghanistan - the alliance's longest overseas deployment - were also on the agenda for the summit. | |
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. | 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. | 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. | "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. |
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson arriving at the summit | |
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. | 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 communiqué G7 leaders criticised China for 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. | In response, China accused the G7 of "lies, rumours and baseless accusations" in a statement through its embassy in the UK. |