China warns Nato against provoking confrontation over Russia ties

China on July 11 warned Nato against “provoking confrontation” over its ties with Russia, after the alliance accused Beijing of playing a key role in helping Moscow’s assault on Ukraine.

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Nato leaders said in a declaration at their summit in Washington on July 10 that China had “become a decisive enabler of Russia’s war against Ukraine”.

It said Beijing’s “so-called ‘no limits’ partnership” and “large-scale support for Russia’s defence industrial base” were of “profound concern”.

In response, a spokesperson for Beijing’s mission to the European Union said: “Nato should stop hyping up the so-called China threat, and provoking confrontation and rivalry, and do more to contribute to world peace and stability.”

The spokesperson added: “It is known to all that China is not the creator of the Ukraine crisis. China’s position on Ukraine is open and above board.”

China has refused to condemn Russia’s invasion, and in 2023 released a paper calling for a “political settlement” to the conflict, which Western countries said could enable Russia to retain much of the territory it has seized in Ukraine.

China and Russia’s strategic partnership has grown closer since the invasion.

Beijing presents itself as a neutral party in the war and says it is not sending lethal assistance to either side, unlike the United States and other Western nations.