In an effort to stay relevant, NATO is following the US and turning its eyes on China. In rather candid comments, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the “rise” of China presents an “opportunity” to strengthen the trans-Atlantic military alliance.
“China is coming closer to us, investing in our critical infrastructure,” Stoltenberg told DW on Monday. “There’s no way we can avoid addressing the security consequences for our regional alliance of the rise of China and the shift in the global balance of power.”
Repeating the talking points coming out of Washington, Stoltenberg said China “doesn’t share our values” and threatens the “rules-based order.” He said the competitive relationship with Beijing presents “a unique opportunity to open a new chapter in the relationship between North America — the United States — and Europe.”
Towards the end of 2020, NATO released a report that called for the alliance to put more focus on China. The report says that NATO should partner with “like-minded” countries in the region like Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea.
Stoltenberg’s comments come as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is headed to Brussels, where he is expected to meet with Stoltenberg and other NATO officials. Blinken participated in talks with Chinese officials in Alaska last Thursday and Friday, which quickly became hostile after Blinken opened the meeting by accusing Beijing of threatening the “rules-based order.”
In a show of unity against Beijing, on Monday, the US, UK, EU, and Canada all announced sanctions on Chinese officials over alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
re: China is coming closer to us
Sixteen European countries have signed on to China’s BRI, three major Chinese seaport operators already hold stakes in 12 ports across Europe and the Mediterranean Sea and in January we had the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment. . . .China has made military alliances obsolete.
What that means is that Money talks, money is Chinas Fox in the Hen House.
hmmm why didn’t Australia sign on it seems the prime minister who thought scoring some political points by bashing china now fully realizing the real world consequences became gunshy
Oz has become a total US poodle so it can’t be taken seriously. Their propaganda machine at the Lowy Institute is especially over the top. Perhaps they weren’t given the opportunity.
nuh man with us going on as it is, like all this talk of building coalition they probably went to all five eye countries for support for the coordinated sanctions and with current atmosphere is Australia it would’ve been such a nice storyline for oz to show they r standing up to the bully but oz leadership is genuinely surprised by the fact china can bypass them and get raw materials and foodstuff from elsewhere. now they r trying to mitigate the damage and petrified of more tariff coming their way. nz ofc wisely declined to take part in this lunacy
Here is an article that looks at how China wants to be involved in the development of a vaccine/immunity passport:
https://viableopposition.blogspot.com/2021/03/china-global-health-passport-and-our.html
Governments around the world are likely rubbing their hands with glee thinking that this may just be the answer to their pressing need to know everything about us and track our every move.
“Stoltenberg’s comments come as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is headed to Brussels, where he is expected to meet with Stoltenberg and other NATO officials.”
Tony is going to tell Jens not to use the same talking points(“doesn’t share our values” and threatens the “rules-based order”)that Tony is using since it might lead people to think of NATO, and Jens, as our puppets.
Thanks. The impending NATO summit and the new Strategic Summit that will be approved by it prioritize a global campaign to contain both China and Russia. https://antibellum679354512.wordpress.com/2021/03/23/secretary-of-state-blinken-at-nato-hq-all-out-campaign-against-russia-and-climate-change/
The “white world” is in panic mode.
Prop up the faltering king of hill boys, or those ‘people’ will take over and we know ‘what’ they are…
“Opportunity” prob is the proper term, altho the term is laden with satire and irony.
It is important that nato is ever vigilant for opportunity to justify its existence, its multi $billion budgets and thousands of staff, and last but not least, its multi $billion new hdqtrs with its, wait for it, state of the art briefing and visual apparatuses. One is overwhelmed these days with the absurdities of govts and their “priorities.”
sick, sick, sick!
North Atlantic, South Pacific … whatever.