North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) leaders took a stance against China in the final communique signed by 30 members.
It said that “China’s stated ambitions and assertive behavior present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order.” The statement came just a day after the Group of Seven (G7) nations issued a statement highlighting the importance of peace in the Taiwan Strait.
At the summit, US President Joe Biden urged NATO allies to stand up to China’s authoritarianism and growing military power.
Regarding the likelihood of NATO allies joining the US in defending Taiwan in the case of an attack by Beijing, a report in the German newspaper Die Welt said a consensus on that strategy would probably come at the next summit in 2022.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO and other Asia-Pacific nations that share common values of freedom and human rights are willing to work closer together to meet security challenges. NATO also stated it would expand cooperation with South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific nations.
NATO members have been concerned about China’s increased military activity near Taiwan and the South China Sea. France and Canada have sent ships to the Taiwan Strait and Germany has a warship to the region to show concern.
In April, German Chancellor Angela Merkel also told the Council of Europe that she was concerned about a possible military conflict in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.