Senior NATO officer warns of China’s ‘shocking’ military advances

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Senior NATO officer warns of China’s ‘shocking’ military advances

June 25 2021


NATO’s top military officer highlighted the “shocking” speed of China’s military modernization and warned of its growing diplomatic presence abroad as the alliance prepares to take a more stance. asserted towards Beijing.
Comments from Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach highlight the wide range of security challenges posed by China as alliance members struggle to move beyond a diagnosis of the threat of an agreed plan of action.

“It is quite shocking how quickly China has built ships, how much China has modernized its air force, how much it has invested in cyber management and other forms of management. information, including facial recognition, “said Peach, who resigned Friday after three years as head of NATO’s military committee – in an interview with the Financial Times before his departure.

“I think it’s very important to keep an eye on this. What do you do if you are a leader in China with great modern and powerful force? You deploy it, you move it, ”he said, adding that there is“ additional work required ”between the 30 NATO member states to decide what China’s military ambitions mean for the alliance.

NATO leaders last week first warned that China has posed “systemic challenges” to the rules-based international order, by committing disinformation, cooperating with Russia and expanding its nuclear arsenal.
I don’t see long-term harmony between China and Russia in the Arctic
But critics say the alliance has yet to develop a detailed strategy for China, in part because it is internally divided and lacks tools to deal with issues such as China’s involvement. in European strategic infrastructures.
Peach pointed out how Beijing has extended its diplomatic reach through outposts such as its “huge” embassy in Brussels, which is also the EU’s main headquarters, where NATO’s headquarters are located.

“You now have these large embassy footprints with very large defense sections, often populated by general officers. And then you just observe, as I would after almost 50 years of service, what’s the point? ” He asked.
Brussels has become a center of concern over Chinese espionage and influence activity. Last year, the Belgian security agency accused Fraser Cameron, a Brussels think tank that previously worked for the European Commission and UK intelligence agency MI6, of being involved in a suspicious operation to buy Chinese influence.

Cameron denied any wrongdoing and called the allegations “ridiculous.” Belgium has since declined to comment further on the case and has not brought any charges against it.
The Chinese mission to the EU said in a statement that military exchanges and cooperation with other countries are “an important part of China’s overall diplomacy” and that Beijing “is actively developing constructive military relations with d ‘other countries”.

Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach noted how Beijing has extended its diplomatic reach through outposts such as its “huge” embassy in Brussels © PAPeach, who was previously chief of defense of the British armed forces before being appointed to NATO, said he had noticed that Beijing’s joint operations with Moscow had gone from “relatively minor “To” important exercises and training opportunities “in recent years. But he rejected any suggestion that the two countries are moving towards a strategic partnership.

The chief air marshal hinted that on the contrary, as the melting arctic ice opens a sea route to the north – which will speed up the sea passage from China to Europe and open access to untapped energy and mineral reserves – competition could be triggered between the two powers. Moscow is already opening new military installations in the Arctic, while China has declared itself “a nation close to the Arctic”.
“I cannot see a long term harmony between China and Russia in the Arctic,” Peach said.

 

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