BEIJING (Reuters) – China said on Thursday that “high vigilance” was needed over NATO’s “eastward expansion” following a media report that the alliance plans to open an office in Japan to facilitate consultations with allies in the region.
NATO plans to open its first liaison office in Asia, in Japan, to facilitate talks with security partners such as South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, given the geopolitical challenges of the China and Russia, the Nikkei Asia reported Wednesday, citing Japanese and NATO officials.
Mao Ning, spokesperson for the chinese ministry of foreign affairssaid Asia was a “promising land for cooperation and development and should not be a battleground for geopolitics”.
“NATO’s continued eastward expansion in the Asia-Pacific region, interference in regional affairs, attempts to destroy regional peace and stability, and push for bloc confrontation call for great vigilance of countries in the region,” Mao said at a regular press conference.
The Nikkei Asia said the proposed office was to open next year in Tokyo.
Asked about the Nikkei Asia report, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said earlier that the alliance would not go into details of NATO allies’ deliberations.
“NATO has liaison offices and agreements with a number of international organizations and partner countries, and allies regularly evaluate these liaison agreements to ensure that they best meet NATO’s needs. and our partners,” she said.
Lungescu said NATO has a close partnership with Japan that continues to grow.
NATO plans to open its first liaison office in Asia, in Japan, to facilitate talks with security partners such as South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, given the geopolitical challenges of the China and Russia, the Nikkei Asia reported Wednesday, citing Japanese and NATO officials.
Mao Ning, spokesperson for the chinese ministry of foreign affairssaid Asia was a “promising land for cooperation and development and should not be a battleground for geopolitics”.
“NATO’s continued eastward expansion in the Asia-Pacific region, interference in regional affairs, attempts to destroy regional peace and stability, and push for bloc confrontation call for great vigilance of countries in the region,” Mao said at a regular press conference.
The Nikkei Asia said the proposed office was to open next year in Tokyo.
Asked about the Nikkei Asia report, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said earlier that the alliance would not go into details of NATO allies’ deliberations.
“NATO has liaison offices and agreements with a number of international organizations and partner countries, and allies regularly evaluate these liaison agreements to ensure that they best meet NATO’s needs. and our partners,” she said.
Lungescu said NATO has a close partnership with Japan that continues to grow.
