Nato report says China could pose military threat to Europe and US
- Member nations are called on to ‘increase capacity to anticipate and react to Chinese activities that undermine allies’ security’
- Report was written by 10 independent experts appointed by Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
In a critical assessment by Nato, China has been portrayed as a potential military threat facing not only the US but also Europe, rendering Beijing a test of Nato’s collective defence system that binds 30 Western countries.
Beijing’s repeated promises to rise peacefully into a global superpower were largely ignored in the report outlining the next 10 years of focus for Nato, which is now called upon to “increase capacity to anticipate and react to Chinese activities that undermine allies’ security”.
While Russia remains the top Nato threat, the report suggests that the coalition “remain open to discussing peaceful coexistence” with Moscow while staying united to respond to hostile moves – a mix that reflects the differences in attitude among Nato members.
On China, however, the report is much more hawkish, calling into question Beijing’s willingness to use force against its neighbours and the rapidity of its military modernisation. It also calls for a partnership with India, China’s military arch-rival in South Asia.
“Longer term, China is increasingly likely to project military power globally, including potentially in the Euro-Atlantic area,” the report said. “If allies are threatened by China, Nato must be able to demonstrate its ability to be an effective actor to provide protection.”
