Chinese embassy in Japan voices opposition to NATO's expansion in Asia-Pacific

The Chinese embassy in Japan on Monday blasted the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for its frequent interference in Asia-Pacific affairs and said it hopes that Japan, in its interaction with NATO, would refrain from actions that undermine trust among countries in the region.

According to a statement posted on its website, the Chinese embassy said NATO has recently continued to intervene in Asia-Pacific affairs, stirring up confrontation between camps and causing a high degree of vigilance among countries in the region.

The embassy also voiced firm opposition to NATO's provocative rhetoric targeting China during its recently concluded Vilnius Summit, saying the block once again attempted to heighten tensions and stoke confrontation.

It should be emphasized that NATO's eastward movement into the Asia-Pacific region goes beyond the scope of collective self-defense permitted under the UN Charter, violates the provisions of the UN Charter on regional arrangements and the purpose of developing friendly relations among nations, the spokesperson said in the statement.

The spokesperson said NATO's move is a destabilizing factor in regional and even global security.

Asia-Pacific countries do not welcome the "Asia-Pacificization of NATO," and the Asia-Pacific region does not need an "Asia-Pacific version of NATO," the spokesperson said.

Noting that the Chinese side has taken note of the recent interactions between NATO and Japan, the embassy said it hopes Japan will learn from history, adhere to the path of peaceful development and refrain from doing anything that undermines mutual trust among regional countries and jeopardizes regional peace and stability. 

（CGTN）