In a major shift, Nato identifies China as a systemic challenge | World News - Hindustan Times
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In a major shift, Nato identifies China as a systemic challenge

Jun 29, 2022 11:31 PM IST

While the Nato framed Russia as posing the “most significant and direct threat” to the security of allies, the big departure in the document is on China

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) on Wednesday for the first time in its history recognised China’s “stated ambitions and coercive policies” as a threat to the alliance’s interests, security and values in a sign of the rapid shift in European geopolitical attitudes.

Nato heads of states and governments pose for a photo during a summit in Madrid, Spain. (REUTERS)
Nato heads of states and governments pose for a photo during a summit in Madrid, Spain. (REUTERS)

While remaining open to engaging with China, Nato also said that all allies will work together to address the “systemic challenges” posed by China to Euro-Atlantic security, boost shared awareness, enhance resilience and preparedness, and protect against China’s “coercive tactics and efforts to divide the alliance”.

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The much-anticipated strategic concept, the first since 2010, was released during a historic Nato summit in Madrid that saw the participation of Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Korea.

Long dismissed as a relic of the Cold War, and torn by divisions between the US and Europe in recent years, Nato, under President Joe Biden’s presidency, has assumed a central role in supporting Ukraine and building a united front against Russian aggression. In the process, the gap between the US and Europe on China - accused repeatedly of supporting Moscow - has also been partially bridged.

Defining the alliance’s three core tasks as “deterrence and defence”, “crisis prevention and management”, and cooperative security”, the strategic concept’s main focus is on Russia — an immediate security challenge for European member states of Nato.

The document says that Euro-Atlantic area is not at peace, holds Russia responsible for the violation of norms that kept European security order stable, and factors in the possibility of an attack on a Nato member’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“Strategic competition, pervasive instability and recurrent shocks define our broader security environment,” it said.

The concept then moves on to authoritarian actors, saying that they challenge “our interests, values and democratic way of life”.

They are investing in sophisticated conventional, nuclear and missile capabilities; seek to “exploit the openness, interconnectedness and digitisation of our nations”; interfere in democratic processes and institutions; conduct “malicious activities in cyberspace and space”; and promote “disinformation campaigns, instrumentalise migration, manipulate energy supplies and employ economic coercion,” it added. These actors also undermine multilateral norms and institutions and promote authoritarian models of governance, it further claimed.

While the Nato framed Russia as posing the “most significant and direct threat” to the security of allies, and said the alliance will continue to Russian threats in a “united and responsible” manner, the big departure in the document is on China.

Nato’s strategic concept states that China employs a broad range of political, economic and military tools to increase its global footprint, “while remaining opaque about its strategy, intentions and military build-up”.

It says that China’s “malicious hybrid and cyber operations and its confrontational rhetoric and disinformation” target Nato allies and harm its security, and warns against China’s quest to “control key technological and industrial sectors, critical infrastructure, and strategic materials and supply chains”.

The concept also accuses China of using its “economic leverage” to create strategic dependencies and enhance its influence; of striving to “subvert the rules-based international order, including in the space, cyber and maritime domains”.

In the backdrop of the February 4 joint statement between Russia and China, pledging a no limits friendship, Nato also noted the deepened strategic partnership between the two countries and what it called their “mutually reinforcing attempts to undercut the rules-based international order” as counter to Nato’s values and interests.

Nato has said it remained open to “constructive engagement” with China, but will work to guarantee the defence and security of allies.

“We will boost our shared awareness, enhance our resilience and preparedness, and protect against the PRC’s coercive tactics and efforts to divide the Alliance. We will stand up for our shared values and the rules-based international order, including freedom of navigation.”

Nato has said that it will strengthen its deterrence and defence posture; enhance the readiness, responsiveness, deployability, integration and interoperability of forces; increase alignment of national and Nato defence plans; strengthen its posture and situational awareness in the maritime domain; expedite its digital transformation; enhance its ability to operate in space and cyberspace; and take all steps to ensure the credibility, effectiveness, safety and security of its nuclear deterrent, which largely relies on America’s strategic nuclear forces.

The strategic concept also focuses on the challenge posed by terrorism and says that countering terror is central to collective defence.

“We will continue to counter, deter, defend and respond to threats and challenges posed by terrorist groups, based on a combination of prevention, protection and denial measures.”

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    Prashant Jha is the Washington DC-based US correspondent of Hindustan Times. He is also the editor of HT Premium. Jha has earlier served as editor-views and national political editor/bureau chief of the paper. He is the author of How the BJP Wins: Inside India's Greatest Election Machine and Battles of the New Republic: A Contemporary History of Nepal.

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