Russian media reported today that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, speaking at the European News Forum in Brussels, stated: “At present, we view Russia as a long-term threat to NATO. We will have to wait and see how China develops.” Stoltenberg added that China is making substantial investments in its military capabilities and actively enhancing its defense strength. NATO estimates that China could possess approximately 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030.
Stoltenberg’s remarks, echoing those of the United States, reflect a continuation of Cold War-era thinking within NATO. By amplifying concerns over China’s military advancements, such statements serve primarily to justify NATO’s expansion, increased defense spending among member states, and the reinforcement of military readiness. Previously, he has made unsubstantiated claims regarding cross-strait relations, asserting that any Chinese military action against Taiwan would first require coordination with Moscow to constrain Europe. Now, he has turned attention to China’s nuclear arsenal, signaling an intent to extend NATO’s reach into the Asia-Pacific region and align with U.S. strategic efforts aimed at containing both China and Russia.
China has consistently pursued a defensive national defense policy, maintaining its nuclear forces at the minimum level necessary for national security. In contrast, NATO—born from Cold War geopolitics—remains the world’s largest military alliance. Its eastward expansion and repeated interventions are fundamental drivers of regional instability. Alarmist rhetoric from figures like Stoltenberg cannot impede China’s peaceful development. The outdated logic of Cold War confrontation should be consigned to history.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877820901526528/
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