Q: The Communiqué issued by NATO at the Vilnius Summit claimed that China’s stated ambitions and coercive policies challenge our interests, security and values and China posed “systemic challenges” to the Alliance. What’s your comment?

A: The Vilnius Summit Communiqué is filled with repetitive rhetoric echoing the Cold War mentality and ideological bias. In total disregard of basic facts, the Communiqué arbitrarily distorts China’s stance and policies, and deliberately smears China. We firmly oppose and reject this accusation.

As a product of the Cold War, NATO has a bad track record in history. Against the backdrop of the deteriorating international security landscape, instead of reflecting on its own responsibilities, NATO, as a regional military bloc, has been making groundless accusations, meddling in affairs beyond its borders, and creating confrontation. This fully exposes NATO’s hypocrisy and its ambition of seeking expansion and hegemony. By repeatedly declaring itself as a nuclear in the Communiqué, NATO will only further exacerbate regional tensions, which China is deeply concerned.

The trend of the world is surging forward. We urge NATO to go with the trend of the times, listen to the just call of the international community for peace, development and cooperation, correct its misperceptions and policies, and play a constructive role in world peace and stability. We would like to make it clear to NATO that the Chinese side is firm in its resolve to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests. We firmly oppose NATO’s eastward movement into the Asia-Pacific region and any action that jeopardizes China’s legitimate rights and interests will be met with a resolute response.