At a regular press briefing on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian delivered a clear message: countries in the Asia-Pacific do not welcome NATO’s involvement in the region, and there is no need for an “Asia-Pacific NATO.”
Lin’s remarks, prompted by comments at the recent Shangri-La Dialogue, linked the Taiwan question with the Ukraine crisis and hinted at a so-called “China threat” in the South China Sea. He firmly rejected these comparisons, stressing that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory and that its status is a matter for internal affairs alone under the one-China principle.
On the South China Sea, Lin noted that the situation remains generally stable, with freedom of navigation and overflight maintained for all countries in accordance with international law. He called on directly concerned parties to resolve maritime disputes through negotiation and consultation based on respect for historical facts.
Warning against external interference, Lin urged countries outside the region to respect the Asia-Pacific’s own efforts to maintain peace and stability rather than stoke tension. As a defensive alliance, he argued, NATO has no mandate beyond its treaty-defined scope and must not extend eastward into the Asia-Pacific.
Highlighting Asia’s recent rapid growth, Lin portrayed the region as a driving force for global development. “Asia is our shared home,” he said, “and we should build on principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. Cold War–style bloc confrontation has no place here.”
His final appeal placed the onus on international partners: contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific—don’t sow discord.
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Chinese Foreign Ministry: NATO not welcome in Asia-Pacific region
cgtn.com
