China is criticized by NATO as a key facilitator of Russia's conflict in Ukraine in the strongest condemnation yet.

• Beijing has been labeled a "decisive enabler" of Russia by NATO in its most serious denunciation of China to date.
• The coalition urged Beijing to stop providing any assistance to Russia's war effort, including the transfer of dual-use materials that are used in Russia's defense sector.
• Beijing poses systemic challenges to Euro-Atlantic security, as alleged by the alliance, due to its disinformation campaigns and activities in space and cyberspace.

NATO has accused China of being a "decisive enabler" of Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and has expressed concerns about its nuclear arsenal and the challenges it poses to NATO's security.

Russia's war against Ukraine has been significantly aided by the PRC through its "no limits" partnership and substantial defense industry support, as stated in a NATO communique on the second day of a Washington summit marking the alliance's 75th anniversary.

The coalition urged Beijing to stop providing any support to Russia's war effort, including the transfer of dual-use materials, in NATO's first direct accusation against Xi Jinping's administration.

Beijing has consistently denied providing weapons to Russia in the Ukraine conflict, but the two countries have maintained close trade relations throughout the conflict, even as Moscow faces increasing isolation from the West. This week, Beijing began joint military exercises with Russia's close ally Belarus at a training ground near the Polish border, according to a Google-translated Telegram post from the Belarusian Defense Ministry.

In February 2023, on the anniversary of the Ukraine war, China, which had earned goodwill as a trade partner a month earlier, proposed a peace framework for the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv. However, like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's peace plan and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's recent conditions, it has yet to gain traction.

NATO has stated that China poses systemic challenges to Euro-Atlantic security, citing alleged disinformation from the world's second-largest economy and its activities in space and cyberspace.

"The PRC is expanding and diversifying its nuclear arsenal with more warheads and advanced delivery systems, according to NATO. The communique urged the PRC to engage in strategic risk reduction discussions and promote stability through transparency. NATO warned that allies are increasing their "shared awareness" and enhancing preparations to protect against China's "coercive tactics and efforts to divide the Alliance.""

The Chinese embassy in Brussels has responded to NATO's statement on China-Russia relations with a critical statement, accusing it of being "filled with Cold War mentality and belligerent rhetoric."

We reject and deplore the accusations made in the China-related paragraphs, which contain lies and smears. We have lodged serious representations with NATO in response.