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BEIJING, July 12 – Beijing lashed back at NATO’s accusation that China challenges the group’s interests and security, and opposed any attempt by the military alliance to expand its footprint into the Asia-Pacific region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a strongly worded communique issued midway into a two-day summit in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius on Tuesday, NATO said the People’s Republic of China (PRC) challenged its interests, security and values with its “ambitions and coercive policies”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The PRC employs a broad range of political, economic, and military tools to increase its global footprint and project power, while remaining opaque about its strategy, intentions and military build-up,” NATO heads of state said in their communique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The PRC’s malicious hybrid and cyber operations and its confrontational rhetoric and disinformation target Allies and harm Alliance security.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The China-related content of the communique disregards basic facts, distorts China’s position and policies, and deliberately discredits China, the Chinese mission to the European said in a statement on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We firmly oppose and reject this,” it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters at the summit that while China was not a NATO “adversary”, it was increasingly challenging the rules-based international order with its “coercive behaviour.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n