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Long Focused on Russia, NATO Widens Gaze Towards China

Reuters

   WATFORD, ENGLAND - Seventy years since its Cold War-era founding as a
   transatlantic alliance focused on Moscow, NATO is expanding its gaze
   towards the increasingly muscular challenge posed by China.

   But it is unclear, even to diplomats within the 29-member military
   alliance, whether NATO is up to the task - especially at a time of
   intense internal divisions and acrimony that were on full display
   heading into this week's summit.

   In a statement issued after they met on the outskirts of London on
   Wednesday, NATO leaders said: "We recognize that China's growing
   influence and international policies present both opportunities and
   challenges that we need to address together as an Alliance."

   The United States is leading the charge for a greater focus on China
   and is confident of a receptive audience in much of Europe, where
   concerns are mounting about Beijing's growing economic leverage, in
   particular.

   In a shift in tone earlier this year, the European Commission, the
   European Union's executive, described China as a "systemic rival" and
   urged the bloc to be more assertive after years of welcoming Chinese
   investment virtually unhindered.

   'Strategic challenge'

   U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, in an interview with Reuters, said
   there was an increasing understanding in Europe about the challenges
   posed by China's rapidly expanding military might, which includes
   everything from hypersonic weaponry to aircraft carriers.

   "China is a for us and we need to get ahead of that," Esper said.

   "That doesn't mean that China right now is an enemy. But we need to
   help shape that together as an alliance. And we need to be prepared in
   case things do turn out in a way we prefer they not."

   NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted ahead of the alliance's
   summit that China was the world's second-largest defense spender, after
   the United States.

   "It's not about moving NATO into the South China Sea, but it's about
   taking into account the fact that China is coming to closer to us," he
   said, pointing to Chinese activity in the Arctic, Africa and heavy
   investments in European infrastructure.

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