NATO chief raises alarm over China's military buildup, Taiwan drills

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has voiced growing concern over China’s expanding military capabilities and its recent exercises near Taiwan.

Speaking in Japan on April 8, Rutte urged NATO members and allied nations to collaborate closely to ensure the security of vital sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific region, Caliber.Az reports via US media.

“China is rapidly building up its armed forces, including its navy, and is supporting Russia’s efforts,” Rutte remarked at a press conference in Yokosuka, Japan, as he concluded his visit to the Japanese naval port. “We cannot afford to be naive. It is essential that we work together and closely monitor the situation.”

NATO’s concerns are particularly focused on China's military activities near Taiwan, with Rutte confirming that the alliance is carefully observing the region. Japan, which has increasingly viewed China as a regional threat, has stepped up its military build-up, including plans to acquire long-range cruise missiles to enhance its defence capabilities.

In response to rising tensions, Japan has sought to strengthen its defence relationships, notably with NATO and other Indo-Pacific nations, highlighting the interconnected nature of security risks in both Europe and Asia. The ongoing war in Ukraine, Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine, has been a key factor in galvanising this regional security dialogue.

Rutte also noted that the United States has been encouraging NATO members to take a more active role in the Indo-Pacific. The NATO chief welcomed the recent visit of U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to Japan, underscoring Washington’s commitment to bolstering its alliances in the region. Japan remains the only member of the Group of Seven not involved in NATO.

In recent years, NATO has enhanced its partnerships with countries in the Indo-Pacific, such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, known collectively as the IP4. Officials from these nations have increasingly attended NATO summits and ministerial meetings.

Rutte’s visit, his first to Japan since taking office in October 2023, included scheduled talks with Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Ishiba has long advocated for a NATO-like security framework in the region, though details on such a proposal have not been forthcoming.

As tensions between the U.S. and China escalate, nations with shared security interests are deepening ties, despite Beijing’s objections to NATO’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. China has voiced concerns that Washington may be seeking to establish a NATO-like structure in the region.

By Aghakazim Guliyev