China lashes out at Nato’s ‘groundless accusations’ over Russia

“China and Nato countries have different political systems and values, but this should not be a reason for Nato to incite confrontation with China … Nato should abide by its duties and not interfere in Asia-Pacific affairs, interfere in China’s internal affairs, and not challenge China’s legitimate rights and interests.”

He said China was willing to maintain contact with Nato on the basis of “equality” and “mutual respect”.

The transatlantic security alliance put on a united front against Russia and China this week. In the joint declaration, Nato leaders for the first time denounced Beijing’s support for Moscow and urged it to “cease all material and political support” for Russia.

Beijing has insisted the Western accusations have no legitimacy and that the sanctions are “one-sided” and disrupt international trade.

The Nato declaration also stressed the Indo-Pacific’s importance to Euro-Atlantic security, to which China continued to pose “systemic challenges”.

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance would continue coordination with Indo-Pacific partners such as Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan to increase deterrence against China, including through military drills and collaboration on artificial intelligence.

Those relations have been tense over Ukraine and the bloc’s commitment to de-risk ties with China amid a large trade imbalance and growing national security concerns.

During Thursday’s phone call with the Dutch foreign minister, Wang said Beijing believed the Netherlands would help to promote an objective and rational view of China in the EU.

“China supports the integration process of Europe, supports the development and growth of the EU, and its adherence to strategic autonomy,” Wang said.

“The Netherlands was founded on trade and has always supported free trade. China is willing to strengthen cooperation with the Netherlands to jointly maintain the stability of the global production and supply chain.”

Veldkamp said the Netherlands did not want to decouple from China, one of its major trade partners in Asia, and supported constructive relations between China and the EU, according to the Chinese foreign ministry readout.

Separately on Thursday, China and South Korea held their first export control dialogue in Beijing, a mechanism set up during a trilateral summit with Japan in May.

South Korea has also been urged by the US to restrict exports of chipmaking equipment and technologies to China, and Washington reportedly continued this push with allies at this week’s Nato gathering.

US President Joe Biden met South Korean leader Yoon Suk-yeol on Thursday on the sidelines of the summit. Biden also met leaders of America’s key Indo-Pacific partners – South Korea, Japan, New Zealand and Australia – to discuss China, North Korea and other regional security issues.