聽(L-R) New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Kim Keon See and her husband South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena Zelenska and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida watch from the balcony while participating in a group photo with NATO allies and partners at the White House on July 10, 2024 in Washington, DC. Agence France-Presse
WASHINGTON 鈥� Nato leaders on Wednesday said China鈥檚 deepening ties with Russia are a cause of 鈥渄eep concern鈥� and accused Beijing of playing a key role in helping Moscow鈥檚 assault on Ukraine.
China 鈥渉as become a decisive enabler of Russia鈥檚 war against Ukraine through its so-called 鈥榥o limits鈥� partnership and its large-scale support for Russia鈥檚 defense industrial base,鈥� Nato leaders said in a declaration from their summit in Washington.
Nato leaders urged China 鈥渢o cease all material and political support to Russia鈥檚 war effort.鈥�
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鈥淭his includes the transfer of dual-use materials, such as weapons components, equipment, and raw materials that serve as inputs for Russia鈥檚 defense sector,鈥� the declaration said.
China 鈥渃annot enable the largest war in Europe in recent history without this negatively impacting its interests and reputation,鈥� the alliance said.
The statement came before the leaders of Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea are set to attend the Nato summit on Thursday.
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Washington represents the third year in a row that leaders from the four Asia-Pacific partners will be at a Nato summit.
Beijing has already angrily rejected the accusations from Nato, and says the US-led alliance is seeking an excuse to expand its influence eastwards.
The United States has been pushing its European allies for years to pay closer attention to the threats posed by China.
鈥淚 think the message sent from Nato from this summit is very strong and very clear, and we are clearly defining China鈥檚 responsibility when it comes to enabling Russia鈥檚 war,鈥� Nato鈥檚 outgoing Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said.