China is worsening conflict in Europe: NATO chief

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg asserted on Saturday that China is exacerbating the conflict in Europe by supporting Russia against Ukraine.

“China says it wants to maintain good relations with the West. At the same time, however, Beijing is fueling the war in Europe. You can’t have it both ways,” Stoltenberg stated in an interview with German newspaper Welt am Sonntag.

Stoltenberg underscored the pivotal role of China’s support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict, highlighting a noticeable surge in the sale of crucial components like machine parts, microelectronics, and other technologies essential for Moscow’s production of missiles, tanks, and aircraft used in the war against Ukraine.

While reiterating NATO’s stance against deploying troops to Ukraine or expanding the alliance’s air defense coverage to the country, Stoltenberg emphasized NATO’s commitment to non-involvement in the conflict.

Calling for increased assistance to Ukraine from NATO member states, Stoltenberg urged, “It’s not too late for Ukraine to win. We need to send more weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, including air defense systems and long-range weapons.”

He emphasized the imperative for NATO allies to modernize their military arsenals and ramp up the production of arms and munitions.

Stoltenberg cautioned, “If Vladimir Putin achieves his objectives in Ukraine, Europe’s security will remain precarious, and global stability will be further undermined. We must dissuade Russia from further aggression. Appeasing Putin is not a viable strategy.”