NATO cannot be “ naïve ” about the accumulation of Chinese arms, says Rutte

NATO secretary general, Mark Rutte, expressed concerns on Tuesday the accumulation of weapons and military exercises in China near Taiwan and called on the members of alliance 32 to work together to keep the seaways open and open in the region.

“China supports Russia’s efforts. China is its armed forces, including its navy, at a rapid rate,” NATO secretary general, Mark Rutte, told journalists during his first visit to Japan since the start of her mandate.

“We cannot be naive and we must really work together, assess what is going on,” added the NATO chief at the Japanese navy of Yokosuka.

Rutte’s comments follow a meeting of NATO foreign ministers last week in which the head of the Alliance stressed that world security threats are more interconnected than ever and that the increase in defense spending is essential to guarantee NATO security.

“We see what China does. We see how these two theaters, the inner Pacific and the Euro-Atlantic become more and more connected by the fact that the Russians work with the North Koreans, with the Chinese, with Iran, we must therefore examine all these theaters in conjunction and it will be our goal, “he said.

The former Dutch Prime Minister also said that NATO worries about China’s military exercises near Taiwan and “we follow them very closely”.

Japan considers China as a threat to the region and has accelerated the last years of military accumulation, in particular by preparing to acquire withdrawal capacities with long -range cruise missiles.

Japan, in addition to the United States, has expanded its ties of defense with other friendly nations in Indo-Pacific and Europe, as well as NATO, claiming that the Russian war in Ukraine stresses that security risks in Europe and Asia are inseparable.

The United States wants NATO members to be more involved in the Indo-Pacific region, Rutte said. He welcomed the recent trip of the US Secretary for Defense Pete Hegseth to Japan to ensure Washington’s commitment to strengthen his alliance with Japan and his presence in the region. He stressed its importance, noting that Japan is the only member of the group of seven who is not in NATO.

NATO has also strengthened its links with Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, known as IP4, in recent years – a decision that has been criticized by Beijing, which fears that Washington is not seeking to form a NATO type alliance in the region.