Over the years, while claiming to be a regional defensive alliance, NATO has been hyping up regional tensions and creating bloc confrontation. NATO has publicly stated on many occasions that it remains a regional alliance and does not seek a geographical breakthrough. Asia lies beyond the geographical scope of the North Atlantic and has no need for a replica of NATO. However, NATO, as a military organization of the North Atlantic, has been bent on going east into the Asia-Pacific, interfering in regional affairs and inciting bloc confrontation. This calls for high vigilance among countries in the region. The attitude of the majority of countries in the region is very clear. They oppose the emergence of military blocs in the region. They don’t want NATO’s replica of bloc confrontation around the world. And they certainly will not allow any Cold War or hot war to happen again.

At the 2022 Madrid summit, NATO adopted a new Strategic Concept, claiming that NATO allies will address together the systemic challenges posed by China. The Chinese nation is peace-loving. China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a  defender of the international order. China has put forward the Global Security Initiative (GSI), which is in line with the shared aspiration for peace, security and development and the common interest of the international community. Since it was put forward, the GSI has been warmly received by the international community. Over 80 countries and international organizations have expressed appreciation or support for the GSI, and the Initiative has been included in more than 20 bilateral and multilateral documents between China and relevant countries and organizations. Facts have shown that China presents valuable opportunities for world peace and development. It does not pose “systemic challenges”, as wrongly purported by NATO. The so-called “China threat” is just an excuse for the US-led NATO to expand sphere of influence and defend hegemony. The wars that NATO has launched or engaged in have clearly demonstrated that under the pretext of “democracy” and “human rights”, NATO has turned a blind eye to  international law and basic norms of international relations, arbitrarily interfered in the internal affairs of other countries, and forcibly imposed Western values. The so-called “defensive alliance” has already become an aggressive military organization that defends hegemony.

The Cold War is long over. NATO needs to follow the trend of the times featuring peace and development, heed the views of people of different countries, abandon the outdated Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation, stop creating imaginary enemies and destabilizing Europe and the Asia-Pacific, and do something good for peace and stability in Europe and beyond.