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NATO’s top military officials have highlighted the “tremendous” speed of China’s military modernization and warned of its growing diplomatic presence abroad as the alliance prepares for a more assertive stance on Beijing.
The comments made by Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach show a number of security challenges posed by China in the struggle to move beyond the threat of an threat to the plan of action agreed by members of the alliance.
“It’s pretty amazing how fast China has built ships, how much China has modernized its air force, how much investment it has made in cyber and other information management, at least in face recognition,” said Peach, who resigned as head of NATO’s military commission on Friday. after three years – in an interview with the Financial Times before his magazine.
“I think it’s very important to observe that. What if you are a leader in China if you have a strong and modern great force? You expand, you move, ”he said, adding that“ more work ”needs to be done among NATO’s 30 member states to decide what China’s military intentions mean for the alliance.
NATO leaders last week he warned for the first time China posed “systemic challenges” to the rules-based international order by misinforming, cooperating with Russia and expanding its nuclear arsenal.
Critics say the alliance has not yet developed a specific strategy for China because it is partly divided internally and lacks the tools to address concerns such as Chinese participation in Europe’s strategic infrastructure.
Peach noted how Beijing has expanded its diplomatic reach as a “huge” embassy in Brussels, which is also the EU’s headquarters, as NATO’s headquarters.
“You now have these large remnants of the embassy with very large defensive sections, often filled with general officers. And then you just observe, as I would observe after almost 50 years of service, what good is it?” He asked.
Brussels has become a site of concern for Chinese espionage activities and operations. Last year, the Belgian security agency Fraser Cameron, who previously worked for the European Commission and the British intelligence agency MI6, denounced the Bruser Cameron as a thinker who was allegedly involved in a Chinese purchase operation.
Cameron denied the allegations and said the allegations were “ridiculous.” Belgium has declined to comment further on the case and has not filed any charges.
China’s 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 other countries.”
Air Marshal Stuart Peach noted how Beijing has expanded its diplomatic expansion through posts such as its “horrible” embassy in Brussels.
Peach, who previously served as NATO’s chief of staff in the UK’s armed forces, said Beijing’s joint operations with Moscow have gone from being “relatively small” in recent years to “great exercises and great training opportunities”. But he rejected any suggestion that the two countries were moving towards a strategic partnership.
The chief air marshal, on the other hand, said that the melting of the Arctic ice would open up the northern sea route – which would open up China’s seaway to Europe and speed up access to untapped energy and mineral supplies. competition could arise between the two powers. Moscow is already opening new military facilities in the Arctic, and China has declared itself a “nation close to the Arctic”.
“I can’t see long-term harmony in China and Russia in the Arctic,” Peach said.
But the outgoing leader, who is in charge of maintaining NATO’s diplomatic channel with Valery Gerasimov, chief of staff of the Russian armed forces, was less clear about their discussions.
“I have known General Gerasimov for many years. . . and our relationship is completely professional, “Peach said.” The issues we discuss are designed to keep us all safe and secure. “
As it prepares to return to London, the air marshal predicted that NATO would have to seek sources of funding beyond its target to allow members to spend 2 per cent of their gross domestic product on defense.
At this month’s summit, the Allies agreed to set up a one-million-euro fund invest in new military technologies, from artificial intelligence to robotics. But, he suggested that more could be done. “I’m right about the authority that this alliance gives us, so that’s what we should be thinking about in the future,” Peach said.
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