China denounces Nato statement and defends defence policy

US President Joe Biden speaks during a media conference during a Nato summit in Brussels (Olivier Hoslet, Pool via AP)

The Chinese mission to the European Union has denounced a Nato statement that declared Beijing a “security challenge”, saying China is actually a force for peace but will defend itself if threatened.

The Chinese news release said the Nato statement was a “slander on China’s peaceful development, a misjudgment of the international situation and (Nato’s) own role, and a continuation of the Cold War mentality and organisational political psychology”.