First modification:
Beijing is concerned about the “eastward expansion” of NATO. This is how the communist authorities perceive the possibility of the alliance opening a liaison office in Asia, according to press reports. Chinese diplomacy called on Thursday, May 4, for “the greatest vigilance.”
With our correspondent in Beijing, Stéphane Lagarde
The Philippines, Japan, South Korea, and Beijing see how the US siege tightens in Asia. And when the Nikkei newspaper, which published the news that NATO was considering opening an office in Tokyo, asked one of the spokespersons for Chinese diplomacy on the subject, this is what she replied: “NATO’s continued expansion towards the East in the Asia-Pacific region, interference in regional affairs, attempts to destroy regional peace and stability, and the push for confrontation between blocs require great vigilance on the part of the countries of the region.” Mao Ning already in February “urged NATO to stop destabilizing Asia-Pacific and the world.” Beijing’s distrust of the Atlantic alliance is not new.
Alliances and counter-alliances
On numerous occasions, the Chinese authorities have shared Moscow’s analysis that the alleged expansion of NATO into Eastern Europe was one of the factors that led to Russia’s entry into the war. Now he similarly denounces the rapprochement between Seoul and Tokyo under the umbrella of the United States, caricatured in the China Daily as an American eagle wearing a ring in the colors of Japan and another with the South Korean flag in each paw.
South Korea gets a rare shout out in today’s China Daily cartoon. Australia misses out. Seeker heads on missiles a nice touch. But the problem is–I don’t get it. What is the fish meant to be? pic.twitter.com/izDBY54PPd
— Joel Atkinson 舟綽 (@Joel_P_Atkinson) May 4, 2023
Alliances and Counter-alliances: The Chinese Foreign Minister was in Burma on Tuesday, May 2. He this Friday he travels to Pakistan to talk about Afghanistan. And this morning we learned from the Global Times that the People’s Liberation Army will send troops to Laos in May for joint military exercises dubbed “shield of friendship.”
