Stoltenberg calls for closer relations with Japan

(MENAFN) On Tuesday, Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary-general of NATO, harshly criticized China for "bullying its neighbors and threatening Taiwan" and emphasized the need of Japan and other democracies cooperating with the alliance to safeguard the global order.

Stoltenberg, who is in Tokyo, said China and Russia are "leading an authoritarian pushback against the international rules-based system," calling it a "difficult moment for NATO and for Japan."

According to him, trans-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security are "deeply intertwined," and Vladimir Putin's success in Ukraine would demonstrate that authoritarian governments can use force to achieve their objectives. This is risky, he declared.

“China is watching closely and learning lessons that may influence its future decisions,” Stoltenberg announced at a joint news session with Japanese Premier Fumio Kishida.

“China is substantially building up its military forces including nuclear weapons, bullying its neighbors and threatening Taiwan, trying to control critical infrastructure and spreading misinformation about NATO and the war in Ukraine,” Stoltenberg added. “China is not our adversary, but we must understand the scale of the challenge and work together to address it.”

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