China Outraged Over NATO Accusations of Enabling Russia's War in Ukraine

China has vehemently rejected NATO's assertion that it is a "decisive enabler" of Russia's war in Ukraine, labeling the accusation as provocative and false. This marks the first time NATO has explicitly implicated Beijing in the conflict, sparking a swift and blunt response from China.

In a communiqué issued during NATO's 75th-anniversary summit in Washington, D.C., the alliance called on China to "cease all material and political support to Russia’s war effort." The statement specifically highlighted the transfer of dual-use materials, such as weapons components and equipment, which can be repurposed for military use. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized this as "the strongest message NATO allies have ever sent on China’s contributions to Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine."

China’s response was immediate. A spokesperson for China’s mission to the European Union condemned NATO's communiqué as filled with a "Cold War mentality and belligerent rhetoric" and accused the alliance of spreading "obvious lies and smears." The spokesperson added, "We firmly reject and deplore these accusations and have lodged serious representations with NATO."

During a daily news briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian accused NATO of harboring "malicious intent." Lin reiterated China's stance of neutrality in the conflict, blaming the U.S. and NATO for provoking Russia by ignoring its security concerns.

The United States has accused China for months of supplying Russia with dual-use materials, but European allies, who have stronger economic ties with Beijing, have been more reticent to echo these claims. This week's communiqué represents a significant alignment of NATO's stance with Washington's view, reflecting a growing consensus within the alliance about the interconnectedness of global security threats.

NATO's statement also noted the involvement of other authoritarian regimes, such as Iran and North Korea, in supporting Russia’s war effort. Stoltenberg warned that these alliances pose a long-term threat to global security