China retaliates against NATO criticism, warns it will protect its rights

(Patria) - Beijing has hit back at NATO accusations that China challenges the group's interests and security and has opposed any attempt by the military alliance to expand its footprint into the Asia-Pacific region, Reuters reported.

In a statement released midway through a two-day summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on Tuesday, NATO said the People's Republic of China (PRC) challenges its interests, security, and values with its "ambitions and coercive policies".

"The PRC uses a wide range of political, economic and military tools to increase its
global footprint and power projection, while remaining opaque about its strategy, intentions and military build-up," NATO leaders said in their statement.

"The PRC's malicious hybrid and cyber operations and its confrontational rhetoric and disinformation target allies and harm the Alliance's security," it added.

The content of the statement concerning China ignores basic facts, distorts China's position and policies, and deliberately discredits China, the Chinese Mission to Europe said in a statement.

"We firmly oppose and reject this," it stated.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters at the summit that while China is not an "adversary" of NATO, it is increasingly challenging the international rules-based order with its "coercive behaviour".

China strongly opposes NATO's "move eastward into the Asia-Pacific region" and has warned that any action that jeopardizes Beijing's rights will be met with a resolute response, the Chinese mission said in a statement.

"Any act that jeopardizes China's legitimate rights and interests will be met with a resolute response," it added.