Senior Colonel Zhou Bo (ret.), a senior fellow at Tsinghua University’s Center for International Security and Strategy and China Forum expert, recently gave an interview to TIME on South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand’s attendance at the upcoming NATO summit in Madrid, and was quoted in an opinion piece by Charlie Campbell titled “Japan and South Korea’s Attendance at the Upcoming NATO Summit Could Worsen Global Tensions.”

Critics have pointed out what NATO risks by expanding its remit beyond a European security mission, the article says, adding that Asia’s delicate security architecture may now be in the process of change.

The perception in Beijing is that Tokyo and Seoul’s participation in Madrid is directed at China, the article notes. “NATO is headed by the United States,” said Zhou Bo. “Therefore, if the United States concludes that China is a more serious threat than Russia, then of course it will just make use of NATO.”

China has previously enjoyed friendly relations with NATO, frequently participating with the bloc in joint exercises like anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden, Zhou noted. In addition, NATO delegations have attended the influential Xiangshan Forum in Beijing and engaged in many official exchanges. Yet NATO’s attitude to China is turning more hostile. The bloc used to describe China as an “opportunity” but has shifted to using the term “challenge” under US direction, he said. 

“The irony is the US actually poses a problem for NATO member states, because most of them are European countries still friendly with China,” said Zhou. “These are just countries wearing too many hats in different capacities.”

Read the article here: https://time.com/6188414/japan-south-korea-nato-summit/