NATO’s Provocations Against China Will Not Work

By David Starr

 

It’s been the same old Cold War propaganda whereby demonization, fear, hysteria and hypocrisy are blurted out by the West, especially the United States. 

 

NATO has already been violating its actual purpose which was to “protect” Western Europe from the Soviet Union. But the USSR dissolved, and NATO’s excuse to exist is unacceptable. If the Warsaw Pact had to dissolve, then it would be diplomatic and fair that NATO not exist. 

 

NATO has taken on a new role: that being an imperialist, war mongering entity. Lead by the USA, NATO has been involved in imperial wars in Libya, Afghanistan, the former Yugoslavia, and now, Ukraine. NATO isn’t a vehicle for freedom and democracy. It’s bottom-line purpose is to help to maintain and expand the rule of capital. 

 

One of NATO’s “enemies” is the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Rather than prioritize diplomacy and ways to find peace–like the PRC is doing–NATO has been making hostile provocations, both verbally and in some of its maneuvers. 

 

It’s verbal hostility was evident in a press conference scheduled after the NATO summit. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg didn’t mince words. Stoltenberg used an old propagandistic cliché, claiming the PRC is “oppressing its own people,” according to Politico. Every country has its positive factors and its negative factors; and that includes the PRC. But Stoltenberg’s rhetoric is strictly B/W, with no shades of gray. 

 

Stoltenberg accused the PRC of being a “decisive enabler,” helping Russia in its war with Ukraine. But is there evidence? Regarding the PRC’s military exercises with Belarus, Stoltenberg made the hypocritical claim that “The Chinese exercise together with Belarusian forces…just confirms how authoritarian regimes are aligning more and more, and also how China is coming closer to NATO, in Europe, in Africa and the Artic and elsewhere.”

 

Incredible. The U.S./NATO alliance has done those very things, especially in the Global South. Stoltenberg is apparently in deep denial about the imperial actions of the alliance. Further, he is probably against the establishing of a multi-polar world since it would threaten the current world order, which has been bi-polar, led by the USA. The West has been mainly on the offensive for centuries while the Global South has mainly been on the defensive. Thus, the gross inequality that characterizes the current world order. 

 

Stoltenberg’s appeals to fear and hypocrisy go even further: “We are speaking about authoritarian regimes. China is oppressing its own people, cracking down on democratic voices…in Hong Kong, more assertive behavior in the South China Sea, threatening neighbors, threatening Taiwan.” Stoltenberg doesn’t have an inkling of what’s going on in the PRC, given his “righteous outrage” and a case of heavy bias. Again, shades of gray are absent from Stoltenberg’s propaganda.

 

While it’s true there have been disagreements between the PRC and neighboring countries like the Philippines, in regards to control of the South China Sea, negotiations are needed to resolve the disputes. But the U.S./NATO alliance has continued with its provocations, like the USA putting more military bases in the Philippines in order to be close to the PRC, preparing the threat of a war with the PRC.

 

Poland has been watching the PRC-Belarusian exercises which are near its border and are concerned. The thing is, Poland has had right-wing governments since the dissolving of the USSR and are thus more than willing to appease the West.  Besides, the outdated hostility of the alliance is still present. It’s not the PRC that’s putting military bases in Mexico or Canada near the USA’s borders. It’s the U.S./NATO alliance that’s doing that very thing with the PRC, and thus, positions itself as a potential threat.

 

Stoltenberg brought up one of the West’s favorite topics. The “threat” the PRC poses to Taiwan. But Stoltenberg may be ignorant about the following: the USA and the PRC signed an agreement called the Shanghai Communique in the 1970s. It states that the USA acknowledges that Taiwan is a part of China. Thus, condemning the PRC for a possible invasion of Taiwan is absurd since the PRC cannot invade itself.

 

Chinese officials responded back to NATO’s document. Quoting from Al Jazeera, “A spokesperson from the Chinese mission to the European Union released a statement, in response, saying the communique is full of ‘Cold War mentality and belligerent rhetoric.’”

 

Further, the document “pertaining to China is rife with ‘provocations, lies, incitement and smears.’”

 

According to the spokesperson, “China’s core position on the Ukraine issue is to promote peace talks and political settlement, which has been widely recognized and appreciated by the international community.” This is in blatant contradiction to Stoltenberg’s claim that the PRC is an “decisive enabler” of Russia’s war against Ukraine. In Western-speak, the PRC is an evil doer.

 

Rather than cooperate with the PRC, NATO also accuses it of undercutting “and reshape the rules-based international order [which is a] cause for profound concern.” While all 32 NATO members voted in the affirmative to “contain” the PRC, it’s been the West, especially the USA, that needs to be contained given that rules-based international order has been of major advantage to the USA in its attempt to continue a bi-polar world. 

 

And one way, quoting Al Jazeera, NATO is “showing growing interest in expanding its mission, including by increasing its geographic influence.” Again, NATO has violated its original purpose, becoming a junior partner with the USA as an imperialist entity. 

 

To add to its belligerence, “NATO’s plans to launch four projects in collaboration with the Asia Pacific partners to back Ukraine, strengthen cyber defense cooperation, counter disinformation and work on artificial intelligence” are in the works. Again, no mention of promoting dialogue and making efforts to prioritize peace.

 

There are other nations who could contribute to NATO’s aggression, quoting the World Socialist Web Site(WSWS): “For the third year in a row, leaders or their deputies from Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia (the IP4)–all non-NATO members–were invited to attend the summit in Washington. The White House said it welcomed the attendance of the Indo-Pacific countries because the ‘threats and challenges’ among the regions are interconnected.” 

 

And further, quoting the WSWS, “These bellicose statements against China make clear that NATO is preparing for war on a global scale.” So, who wants freedom, democracy and peace? It sure isn’t NATO.

 

Speaking of peace, Stoltenberg used the word in a rhetorical statement: “We must work even more closely together to preserve peace and protect the rules-based international order.” Translation? “We must work more closely together to preserve conflict and provocations and protect U.S. and NATO imperialism.

 

WSWS concluded that “the escalating wars in Ukraine, the Middle East and the looming war against China are not separate conflicts , but the opening shots in a world war involving nuclear armed powers, which threatens catastrophe for all mankind.”

 

There’s more to the NATO Summit press conference that dishes out propaganda:

 

“We call on the PRC, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council with a particular responsibility to uphold the purposes and purposes of the UN Charter…” 

 

This is a morally bankrupt statement since the USA is supplying Israel with weapons to kill more Palestinians. So, what about Israel adhering to the UN Charter? Several times it hasn’t with regard to its treatment of Palestinians in the forms of the occupation and settlements. And the USA has been complicit in Israel’s attempted genocide.

 

“The PRC continues to pose systemic challenges to Euro-Atlantic security.” “…we are boosting our shared awareness, enhancing our resilience and preparedness, and protecting against the PRC’s coercive tactics and efforts to divide the Alliance.”

 

No mention of cooperation and diplomacy. Just provocative rhetoric given an illusion of the PRC being a threat to “Euro-Atlantic security.” The PRC has prioritized diplomacy and dialogue, and it has been helpful in creating infrastructure projects in the Global South for development. There doesn’t seem to be provocations on the PRC’s part. But that’s not to say that the PRC has been totally innocent, no country is.

 

Rather than focus on peace, NATO is trying to expand, which is morally irresponsible. Members of NATO should get it through their collective heads that the Cold War ended in 1991. Yet, the hypocrisy, provocations, and conflict are the priorities. NATO has not learned from history. It’s dwelling in it.