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BEIJING (Reuters) – China said on Thursday there was a need for “extreme vigilance” in the face of “NATO’s eastward expansion” following a media report that the alliance plans to set up 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, with geopolitical challenges from China and Russia in mind, Nikki Asia Reported on Wednesday, citing Japanese and NATO officials.
Mao Ning, spokesman Chinese Ministry of Foreign AffairsHe said that Asia is “a promising land for cooperation and development and should not be a battleground for geopolitics.”
Mao said at a regular press conference that “NATO’s continued eastward expansion in the Asia-Pacific region, interference in regional affairs, attempts to destroy regional peace and stability, and push towards confrontation with blocs, require high vigilance from the countries of the region.”
Nikkei Asia said the proposed office was set to open next year in Tokyo.
In response to a question about the Nikkei Asia report, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said earlier that the alliance will not enter into the details of the deliberations of NATO allies.
“NATO has offices and liaison arrangements with a number of international organizations and partner countries, and Allies regularly assess these liaison arrangements to ensure that they best serve the needs of both NATO and our partners,” she said.
Lungescu said NATO has a close partnership with Japan that has continued 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, with geopolitical challenges from China and Russia in mind, Nikki Asia Reported on Wednesday, citing Japanese and NATO officials.
Mao Ning, spokesman Chinese Ministry of Foreign AffairsHe said that Asia is “a promising land for cooperation and development and should not be a battleground for geopolitics.”
Mao said at a regular press conference that “NATO’s continued eastward expansion in the Asia-Pacific region, interference in regional affairs, attempts to destroy regional peace and stability, and push towards confrontation with blocs, require high vigilance from the countries of the region.”
Nikkei Asia said the proposed office was set to open next year in Tokyo.
In response to a question about the Nikkei Asia report, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said earlier that the alliance will not enter into the details of the deliberations of NATO allies.
“NATO has offices and liaison arrangements with a number of international organizations and partner countries, and Allies regularly assess these liaison arrangements to ensure that they best serve the needs of both NATO and our partners,” she said.
Lungescu said NATO has a close partnership with Japan that has continued to grow.
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