Abroad Yesterday, 21:202 Stoltenberg: China supports the Russian economy

NATO foreign ministers held talks in Brussels with Asia-Pacific partners Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand on the challenges posed by a growing China.

“China refuses to condemn Russian aggression. And it supports the Russian economy,” Stoltenberg said. “At a time when Beijing and Moscow are turning against the rules-based international order, it is even more important that we continue to stick together.”

The call for a united position comes at a time when French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Beijing, where he will hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In the Chinese capital, Macron said anyone helping aggressor Russia in its war against Ukraine would be seen as an accomplice.

But he also said that China can play an important role in efforts to find a way to peace in Ukraine and that Europe must not separate itself from China.

Stoltenberg, in turn, repeated Western warnings that China should not supply weapons to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

As Stoltenberg said, NATO has so far not been able to confirm that Beijing is supplying weapons to Russia.

“China knows the consequences will be severe” if it does so, he warned.

Stoltenberg also said he has invited four Asia-Pacific partners to a NATO summit in Vilnius in July, as the alliance considers ways to strengthen ties with the region.