NATO’s eastward expansion into the Asia-Pacific region will undermine regional peace and stability, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a briefing on Thursday, commenting on the alliance’s intention to open an office in Tokyo.
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NATO intends to open a liaison office in Tokyo in 2024, as well as to reflect in joint documents the strengthening of cooperation with Japan in the field of security in new areas: cyberspace, outer space and in the field of combating disinformation, the Nikkei newspaper previously reported, citing interviews with representatives the government of Japan and the alliance.
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“NATO’s constant advance to the East, to the Asia-Pacific region, and interference in the affairs of the region will certainly undermine peace and stability in the region,” Mao Ning said.
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According to her, the bloc confrontation that arises as a result of such actions should cause increased vigilance of the countries of the region.
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“Asia is a place of peace, stability and joint development. It should not become an arena of geopolitical struggle,” the diplomat said.
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Earlier it was reported that the NATO liaison office in Tokyo will be the first of its kind in Asia. Until now, similar institutions outside the alliance have been opened only in Ukraine and Georgia.
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In addition to Japan, the alliance considers South Korea and Australia as partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
