From increasingly harsh rhetoric, the West is moving to open confrontation with China, making it the main threat.
The NATO summit held in Washington in early July once again showed that the West sees China and Russia as the main threats to «global security». While Russia, according to Western strategists, has directly violated everything possible by defending Russians in Malorossiya, building up arms, and allegedly threatening with nuclear weapons, China is guilty not only of helping Russia but is also seen as an existential challenge to the «free world». «The deepening strategic partnership between Russia and China and their increasing attempts to undermine and reshape the international order based on rules are a cause of particular concern», the summit declaration states. «China’s stated ambitions and coercive policies continue to challenge our interests, security, and values… We are concerned about China’s space capabilities and activities in space. China continues to expand and diversify its nuclear arsenal, adding more warheads and more sophisticated delivery systems. We call on China to participate in discussions on reducing strategic risks and to contribute to stability through transparency».
The message is clear: only the elite, represented by NATO members, can support each other in the military sphere, only they can build up arms, including nuclear, only they can launch space rockets, and so on. This, essentially, is the international order based on rules. NATO estimates China’s nuclear arsenal at 500 warheads and is very concerned that it might become 1,000. Although the U.S. alone has 6,700 warheads in its arsenal. The U.S. and NATO insist that China participate in nuclear arms control negotiations.
Beijing was «deeply disappointed» but did not point out double standards, responding restrainedly, recommending NATO to remain a regional bloc and not interfere in the affairs of other regions of the world (referring to the Asia-Pacific region (APR), where the U.S. is forming its alliances). Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, calling NATO a relic of the Cold War, urged to «stop interfering in China’s internal affairs and defaming it», «creating imaginary enemies, forming closed circles in the name of collective defense». The Chinese representation to the EU assessed NATO’s declaration passages about China as «provocative, containing obvious lies and slander», and the document as a whole as «filled with a Cold War mentality and belligerent rhetoric». They also stated that «China has never provided lethal weapons to any side of the conflict (Ukrainian — author’s note) and strictly controls the export of dual-use goods». «The Ukrainian crisis has been going on for a long time. But who fuels the fire? Who fans the flames? And who seeks selfish gain? The answer is obvious to everyone», remarked the diplomatic mission, without directly pointing fingers.
This is perhaps the sharpest exchange of harsh statements between NATO and China. To some extent, this is also related to the fact that Asia-Pacific countries — Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea — were invited to Washington and are being drawn into the alliance. Beijing’s concern on this matter was expressed immediately after the Washington summit by China’s Foreign Minister and head of the CPC Central Committee’s International Department Wang Yi. This is also quite unusual, as top Chinese leaders usually avoid direct exchanges of accusations. In a phone conversation with the Dutch Foreign Minister, Wang Yi said, «NATO should focus on its own issues and refrain from interfering in Asia-Pacific affairs». «China and alliance members have different political systems and values, but this should not be a reason for NATO to fuel confrontation with China», the Chinese minister pointed out the main contradiction, which will remain under any geostrategic scenario.
However, it should be noted that recently, the matter is not limited to harsh and belligerent rhetoric from NATO. Declaring China almost the main, including military, threat to the «free world» leads to increased confrontation in other areas, economic sanctions, ideological diversions, restrictions on humanitarian contacts. The recent imposition of high tariffs on Chinese high-tech products is part of this intensifying confrontation, aimed at maintaining the Western-centric world system.
China is trying to avoid direct confrontation, but due to objective reasons (including its economic weight and hostile actions of the opposing side) is forced to respond. In June, Beijing imposed sanctions against American military equipment manufacturer Lockheed Martin (which builds F-16 fighter jets) and its leadership for arms supplies to Taiwan, «violations of the one-China principle, three Sino-American communiques, and interference in China’s internal affairs». U.S. military corporations Northrop Grumman and Raytheon are also under Chinese sanctions.
Immediately after the Washington summit, Beijing imposed sanctions against six more American military companies and their leadership: Maritime Tactical Systems, Anduril Industries, PacificRim Defense, AEVEX Aerospace, LKD Aerospace, and Summit Technologies Inc. The sanctions were imposed preemptively, immediately after information about planned arms supplies to Taiwan appeared.
So far, China and the EU are refraining from imposing sanctions against each other, despite calls from the U.S. Last year, the press reported possible steps by the European Commission against Chinese companies «helping Russia». However, it didn’t come to that. In Beijing and Brussels, they understand that this could lead to a trade war. However, judging by the statements of the re-elected head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, this stage of confrontation is not far off. In her EU development program for 2024–2029, she particularly notes that «Russia-China cooperation reduces the union’s influence and undermines the Western-built international order based on rules». She also promised to strengthen the EU economically and ensure that it can stand alone against any rival.
The change in Brussels’ approach to China apparently occurred after last year’s visit of the EU leadership to Beijing, when Europeans finally realized that China cannot be forced to play by Western rules.