China News Network, April 9 (Reporter Meng Xiangjun) From 6 to 7 local time, a two-day meeting of foreign ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was held, and the foreign ministers of four Asia-Pacific countries, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, went to Brussels, Belgium, to attend the meeting. Among them, representatives of Japan and South Korea attended the meeting for the first time.
NATO meeting, Asia-Pacific countries attending, what kind of trouble is this? Not only that, NATO even pointed out this time that when formulating the organization's "new strategic concept", it should consider targeting China for the first time.
As a product of the Cold War that should have been disbanded long ago, but continued to "expand", what will NATO plan next?
On April 7, local time, nato foreign ministers' meeting was held in Brussels, Belgium, and the picture shows the scene of the meeting. Image source: NATO official website.
Western military blocs are assembled
"Not a good sign"
In addition to many NATO member states and Asia-Pacific countries, the NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting was invited by Ukraine, Finland, Sweden, Georgia, as well as the European Union and New Zealand. The first four countries are interested in joining NATO; the latter two, one is dependent on NATO for defense, and the other is a member of the "Five Eyes Alliance".
Just look at the participants and you will understand what kind of meeting NATO is holding. The conference can be roughly divided into three main points:
First, deal with the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, strengthen support for Ukraine, and unite allies and partners against Russia.
Second, discuss the introduction of NATO's "new strategic concept", and for the first time consider dealing with "China's growing influence" and "international coercive policies". NATO should deepen cooperation with Asia-Pacific partners.
Third, the preliminary study of "expanding NATO's traditional area of responsibility", in other words, continue to engage in expansion. Countries such as Finland and Sweden are potential members that NATO intends to absorb.
Data chart: The scene of the NATO Defense Ministers' Meeting.
Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao pointed out that the meeting was actually an important gathering of Western military blocs and was described as an "important milestone". NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg has previously made no secret of the nature of the meeting, believing that it is not limited to the future security of Europe, but also related to the future geopolitical structure of the world.
In this regard, Jin Canrong, deputy dean of the School of International Relations of Chinese University, pointed out to China News Network that at present, NATO expansion not only does not stop, but also expects to go global. Nato's invitation to Asia-Pacific countries to participate in the foreign ministers' meeting is not a good sign and deserves vigilance.
"Xiangzhuang Dancing Sword"
Intended to be in China
On the 5th, before the NATO foreign ministers' meeting began, Stoltenberg began to "let the wind blow" out. It noted that the relationship between NATO and China would be included in the "new strategic vision" to be approved at the Madrid summit in June. The concept will take into account Russia's military operations in Ukraine, the impact of China's increased strength on the security of allies, and the Sino-Russian joint "challenge to the international order."
In fact, after the June 2021 summit, the NATO communiqué defined China as a "systemic challenge" for the first time. Recently, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Milley and Defense Secretary Austin also pointed out at the Hearing of the House Military Committee that China and Russia "pose a serious threat" and that "the possibility of major international conflicts is increasing."
Infographic: NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg.
An editorial in Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao pointed out that NATO foreign ministers will rarely become an enlarged meeting, and the participation of US allies in East Asia and Oceania is very clear. The meeting ostensibly discussed the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, but perhaps another important agenda was the establishment of a common position on China.
With the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, NATO "hit the snake with the stick" and took the opportunity to tie Beijing to Moscow as a moral weight against China in the future. It has repeatedly pressed China not to support Russia in any way.
Jin Canrong stressed that what needs vigilance is that at present, in addition to the two policy factions of "first Asia and then Europe" and "first Europe and then Asia," a third faction may have been formed in the US political circles -- "binding China and Russia" and fighting on two fronts.
Infographic: NATO logo. Image source: NATO official website.
In March, The Atlantic Publish published an article by members of the Atlantic Council proposing to tie China and Russia together by drawing ideological lines. The United States can take this opportunity to further consolidate the unity of the West and form a "new Cold War" situation in which the entire West confronts China and Russia.
Jin Canrong believes that this line of thinking is very dangerous, but from all indications, it may have the upper hand at present.
Aim for the Asia-Pacific region
Which countries "get on the bus"?
As China's neighbors, what about japan and South Korea's interaction with the United States and NATO?
Japan's Kyodo News Agency reported that Stoltenberg has previously said that it looks forward to strengthening cooperation with Japan. "Although geographically far away [NATO countries], they share the same values," he said. According to the joint statement of the NATO summit on March 24, Japanese Foreign Minister Lin Fangzheng consulted with all parties to ask China not to support Russia's specific measures and to deal with China's activities in the East China Sea, the South China Sea, the Taiwan region and other waters.
Data chart: On March 10, Yoon Seok-yue, the candidate of South Korea's largest opposition party, the National Power Party, was elected the country's new president.
On the 4th, Yonhap News Agency reported that South Korean President-elect Yoon Seok-yue sent a South Korean-U.S. policy consultation delegation to the United States to say that Yoon Seok-yue expects to upgrade South Korea-U.S. relations to a higher level of comprehensive strategic alliance, and the two sides have reached a consensus. South Korea is also interested in joining the U.S.-Japan-Australia-India Quad Security Dialogue Mechanism (QUAD), which was welcomed by Campbell, indo-Pacific Coordinator of the U.S. National Security Council.
Zhu Feng, dean of the Institute of International Relations of Nanjing University, analyzed in an interview with China News Network that the Russian-Ukrainian conflict has led to a polarized development trend in the security of the Asia-Pacific region. On the one hand, Japan and the United States are fully on the same side, and the pro-American trend of South Korea's newly elected Yoon Seok-yue government is also obvious.
On the other hand, nato's expansion into Asia will cause tension in the Asian region and intensify the arms race. Most ASEAN countries do not want to see a major deterioration in the international political situation and are therefore reluctant to sanction Russia.
It can be seen that in addition to The four countries of Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, India, the main member of the US Indo-Pacific strategy, and the vast number of Asian countries represented by ASEAN countries, most of them have not danced with the United States.
Zhu Feng further analyzed that an important part of the US Indo-Pacific strategy is to continue to expand and develop the "Indo-Pacific version of small NATO" through bilateral and multilateral military alliances.
Infographic: In 2017, NATO held a large-scale cyber defense exercise.
At the foreign ministers' meeting, NATO agreed to Australia's request to strengthen cooperation in the Asia-Pacific maritime security and other fields. Stoltenberg also indicated that NATO will seek to deepen cooperation with Asia-Pacific partners in key areas such as arms control, cybersecurity, hybrid strategy and technology.
In fact, according to the White House statement on the 5th, the United States, Britain, Australia Trilateral Security Alliance Agreement (AUKUS) has announced the development of hypersonic, anti-supersonic weapons and in the field of electronic warfare capabilities, to start cooperation.
The Russian Satellite News Agency quoted experts as pointing out that the development of AUKUS hypersonic weapons is first aimed at China and is fueling the Asian arms race. Like QUAD, AUKUS is being created as a "geostrategic echelon to contain China."
"Old Tools New Mission"
The Cold War machine roared
Jin Canrong pointed out that if the United States and the West want to further expand the NATO system to the Asia-Pacific region and the Indo-Pacific region, it will lead to an increase in regional confrontations and will be harmful to regional peace and stable development. Therefore, we must resolutely oppose NATO's attempt to expand into the Asia-Pacific region.
NATO is an organization established during the Cold War, and with the collapse of the Soviet Union, its mission is over and should be withdrawn from the stage of history. But the West, centered around the United States and the European Union, still wants to expand and protect its global interests, believing that NATO still has existential value, so it continues to expand.
Data chart: NATO's annual exercise was held, and the picture shows the US military armored vehicle participating in the military exercise.
Zhu Feng said that if NATO further interferes in Indo-Pacific affairs, it means that it has deviated from its own goals as a "defensive organization". This also reflects the anxiety of the US-Centered US-Western alliance system about the changes in the international situation today.
Jin Canrong also analyzed that today, the world has entered a major change that has not been seen in a hundred years, and the United States and the West do not accept the changes in the international order centered on it, so nato is generalized as a tool, and wants to "give the old tool a new mission" and use it to the extreme.
He believes that next, NATO will not only expand its organizational structure, but also its functions will be expanded. The nature of NATO has changed, from a Cold War tool to a tool for maintaining and expanding the common system and vested interests centered on the United States and the West.
Infographic: During the War in Afghanistan, NATO convoys were attacked in Kandahar.
The United States has already had practices before, such as the war in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan, and the United States, which does not expect to fight alone, is to pull NATO and launch an attack without the authorization of the United Nations. Including in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the United States pulled NATO allies to arch the situation and sanction Russia.
Zhu Feng pointed out that in the post-Russian-Ukrainian conflict period, countries should strengthen policy coordination and help establish a "balanced, effective and sustainable" European security mechanism, rather than simply emphasizing the militarization of great powers or the globalization of NATO.
The continuous arms assistance provided by the United States and the West to Ukraine is tantamount to adding fuel to the fire. At present, the most important thing is that the international community has more countries that hold such a position as China, cool down the situation in Russia and Ukraine, and persuade and promote peace and talks as soon as possible. (End)
Source: China News Network