NATO Chief Criticizes China for Double-Dealing Amid Ukraine Conflict

[Social Media]

 

In a forceful critique, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned China on Monday for its duplicity in publicly supporting Ukraine while secretly aiding Russia with military supplies. Speaking at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC, Stoltenberg accused China of exacerbating the most significant conflict in Europe since World War II, stating, “China is fueling the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II. At the same time, it wants to maintain good relations with the West. Well, Beijing cannot have it both ways.”

 

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, China has maintained a publicly neutral stance, advocating for peace and claiming to uphold a strategic partnership with Ukraine. On June 3, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated Beijing’s commitment to Ukraine, highlighting that China remains Ukraine’s largest trading partner and maintains normal embassy operations in Kyiv. “Since the full escalation of the Ukraine crisis, China has maintained communication and cooperation with Ukraine,” Mao Ning stated.

 

Despite these public declarations, China has simultaneously solidified its position as Russia’s largest trading partner, especially significant as many countries have imposed sanctions on Russia. While Beijing insists it has not supplied Russia with weapons for use in Ukraine, US officials argue that this claim is misleading. Stoltenberg pointed out that China has been providing Russia with critical technological components essential for its war efforts, including materials for producing missiles, tanks, and aircraft. “Beijing is sharing high-end technologies, like semiconductors or dual-use items. Last year, Russia imported 90% of its microelectronics from China,” Stoltenberg noted.

 

The NATO chief emphasized that these contributions have significantly bolstered Russia’s defense capabilities, enabling continued aggression in Ukraine and undermining the impact of international sanctions. “All of this enables much death and destruction on Ukraine, bolsters Russia’s defense industrial base, and evades the impact of sanctions and export controls,” he asserted.

 

In response to these actions, the US recently sanctioned seven Chinese companies for shipping materials to Russia that could be used in weapons systems. This move underscores the US position that security threats from Russia and China are intertwined. Stoltenberg dismissed the notion that threats in Europe posed by Russia and those in the Asia-Pacific posed by China could be separated. “Our security is global, not regional, and that’s very clearly demonstrated in Ukraine,” he said.

 

China has often invoked respect for territorial integrity in its international rhetoric, a principle it uses to justify its claims in the South China Sea and over Taiwan. However, this stance has not extended to urging Russia to return Crimea to Ukraine or the Donbas region to Kyiv. Instead, China has taken steps perceived as pro-Moscow, such as proposing a controversial peace plan last year that was criticized for being heavily skewed in favor of Russian demands. The US dismissed the plan, with National Security Council spokesman John Kirby describing it as potentially “one-sided and reflect only the Russian perspective.”

 

Recently, China declined an invitation to a peace summit in Lucerne, Switzerland, attended by representatives from over 100 nations and international organizations. Beijing’s refusal was reportedly due to Moscow's absence from the meeting. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning explained, “China has repeatedly stressed that the international peace conference needs to meet the three important elements – namely, recognition from both Russia and Ukraine, equal participation of all parties, and fair discussion of all peace plans. As far as China is concerned, the meeting does not yet seem to meet these three elements, and that is exactly why China would not be able to take part in the meeting.”

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, addressing the summit, expressed hope that Russia and, by extension, China, would participate in future iterations of the event. The absence of China at such peace initiatives underscores the complex and often contradictory role Beijing plays in the ongoing conflict, as it attempts to balance its international relationships while supporting its strategic ally, Russia.

 

Stoltenberg's critique highlights the growing frustration within NATO and Western nations over China’s actions, which, despite its claims of neutrality and peace advocacy, have significantly contributed to the prolongation and escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. The situation exemplifies the broader geopolitical struggle and the intricate web of alliances and enmities that define current international relations.

 

 

Credit: NYP 2024-06-19

 

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[CharlieKo]

What gives NATO the right to tell countries what they can and can't do. Stoltenberg is a nutter, the west itching for a fight with Russia and China. 

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

In a forceful critique, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned China on Monday for its duplicity in publicly supporting Ukraine while secretly aiding Russia with military supplies. Speaking at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC, Stoltenberg accused China of exacerbating the most significant conflict in Europe since World War II, stating, “China is fueling the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II. At the same time, it wants to maintain good relations with the West. Well, Beijing cannot have it both ways.”

Hilarious, IMO, that he thinks China is going to play nicely by the west's rules. This is the same west that Biden runs and he is making rather unpleasant noises about China.

 

Having made the initial mistake of joining a conflict that is IMO none of NATO's business ( no treaty with Ukraine ), and not looking good for NATO, Stoltenberg cannot have it both ways.

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

Stoltenberg's critique highlights the growing frustration within NATO and Western nations over China’s actions, which, despite its claims of neutrality and peace advocacy, have significantly contributed to the prolongation and escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.

Pot, kettle, black.

[Bkk Brian]

31 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Pot, kettle, black.

Why? Since when has NATO ever claimed to be neutral?

[John Drake]

It's not just China. It's also Vietnam. Putin is going there for a state visit this week. I've made mention in several topics of the slow moving coup in Vietnam that recently ousted the so-called reformers and put in place hardline, pro-China generals. Now, the wider effect is being seen. The US and Europe needs to withdraw from any agreements and investment in Vietnam. To maintain them, is to help China and Russia and damage the effort against Russia in Ukraine. 

Quote

Vietnam prepared on Wednesday to roll out the red carpet for Vladimir Putin in a visit seen as a publicity coup for the Russian president, who is accused of war crimes in Ukraine, while bringing benefits and risks for Hanoi's Communist leaders.

Putin is expected to arrive late Wednesday night in Hanoi, fresh from a visit to Pyongyang, where he embraced North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Although both North Korea and Russia face international isolation, Vietnam has built careful alliances with the United States and the European Union. The United States has already condemned Hanoi's hosting of the Russian leader.

 

 https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/vietnam-host-putin-nod-old-ties-risking-ire-west-2024-06-19/

 

 

[Gweiloman]

15 hours ago, CharlieKo said:

What gives NATO the right to tell countries what they can and can't do. Stoltenberg is a nutter, the west itching for a fight with Russia and China. 

The collective west is stuck in its imperialist mindset and still thinking that they still control the world. They are in for a rude awakening. What a glorious day that would be.

[Gweiloman]

2 hours ago, John Drake said:

It's not just China. It's also Vietnam. Putin is going there for a state visit this week. I've made mention in several topics of the slow moving coup in Vietnam that recently ousted the so-called reformers and put in place hardline, pro-China generals. Now, the wider effect is being seen. The US and Europe needs to withdraw from any agreements and investment in Vietnam. To maintain them, is to help China and Russia and damage the effort against Russia in Ukraine. 

 

 https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/vietnam-host-putin-nod-old-ties-risking-ire-west-2024-06-19/

 

 

The US is losing allies left, right and centre and desperate to recruit anyone who is willing, to their side, even a communist country like Vietnam. They are so desperate that they don’t even realise they are being played as suckers. Good times indeed.

[novacova]

16 hours ago, Social Media said:

“China is fueling the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II. At the same time, it wants to maintain good relations with the West. Well, Beijing cannot have it both ways.”

The West is fueling the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II. At the same time, it wants to maintain controlling relations with China. Well, the west can’t have it both ways.

16 hours ago, CharlieKo said:

What gives NATO the right to tell countries what they can and can't do.

None. 

 

16 hours ago, CharlieKo said:

the west itching for a fight with Russia

The way things are going, probably by the end of the year. The West is on a belligerent destructive path ignoring the fact that Putin has absolutely no intention of backing down. Putin has been showing restraint against the Russian populace and the upper echelons who overwhelmingly support him and want him to push harder. 

 

Edited June 19 by novacova

[GroveHillWanderer]

16 hours ago, CharlieKo said:

What gives NATO the right to tell countries what they can and can't do. Stoltenberg is a nutter, the west itching for a fight with Russia and China. 

He's not telling China what they can or can't do. He's highlighting (and criticising) their duplicity.

Edited June 19 by GroveHillWanderer

[John Drake]

30 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

The US is losing allies left, right and centre and desperate to recruit anyone who is willing, to their side, even a communist country like Vietnam. They are so desperate that they don’t even realise they are being played as suckers. Good times indeed.

 

Well, yes, I think some of what you say is correct. I've said before on these forums that Vietnam has snookered the US. Vietnam was never, could never, replace China with the US. Ideologically, they are both still communist. And with the new Vietnamese hardliners who came to power on an anti-corruption campaign (just like Xi), it should be obvious which way they will go. If that is not enough, there is the simple fact that China controls the Mekong River and holds ultimate control over Vietnam. US foreign policy is delusional if it thinks it ever had a chance of bringing Vietnam over to its side.

[CharlieKo]

27 minutes ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

He's not telling China what they can or can't do. He's highlighting (and criticising) their duplicity.

As if the west aren't as duplicitous also.  

[GroveHillWanderer]

1 hour ago, CharlieKo said:

As if the west aren't as duplicitous also.  

The issue you raised wasn't whether the west is also duplicitous, it was whether NATO had the right to tell China what to do, despite the fact that NATO had not done that.

[CharlieKo]

2 hours ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

The issue you raised wasn't whether the west is also duplicitous, it was whether NATO had the right to tell China what to do, despite the fact that NATO had not done that.

That is really pathetic. 

[thaibeachlovers]

13 hours ago, John Drake said:

The US and Europe needs to withdraw from any agreements and investment in Vietnam. To maintain them, is to help China and Russia and damage the effort against Russia in Ukraine. 

Did they think Vietnam was a "friend"? Are they demented? America is the enemy that destroyed so much of Vietnam and killed so many Vietnamese. Something that will never be forgotten, nor forgiven.

Agent Orange, the American gift that keeps on giving.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 6/19/2024 at 8:35 AM, Social Media said:

“China is fueling the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II. At the same time, it wants to maintain good relations with the West. Well, Beijing cannot have it both ways.”

That guy must be living in the past.

 

IMO China doesn't really care about the west. They, IMO, know that they only have to wait and the west is going to implode. They must be astounded that 2 geriatrics are even considered for POTUS, but celebrate that the west is eating itself. At this rate they won't even need to fight for the spoils.

 

However, they thank the greed of western capitalists for funding their rise to power- all done with western money in exchange for cheap Chinese junk.