News - Middle East: Amid growing friction, China has called on the NATO military alliance to avoid attempts to start a new Cold War, describing its expansion to the Asian-Pacific region as dangerous.

In his remarks on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin slammed the NATO leaders for their provocative remarks and said the US-led alliance was a product of the Cold War.

"We are calling on NATO to end drawing ideological lines, spreading false reports or making provocative statements about China, and to stop attempts to unleash a new cold war," Wang told reporters.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday said that since the NATO summit in Madrid will address China in a new strategic concept, he welcomes leaders of the alliance’s Asia-Pacific partners - Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea - to the summit.

He called on the NATO members to “realize the rise of China”, adding that he expects that "allies will state that China poses some challenges to our values, our interests, and our security."

Wenbin criticized Stoltenberg’s remarks, describing the military alliance "a tool through which the US maintains its hegemony and manipulates the European security landscape".

He said while NATO was the North Atlantic Treaty Organization originally, it has so far "reached the Asian-Pacific region to show its force".

"These moves are very dangerous and would certainly provoke caution and resolute opposition from Asia-Pacific countries and the entire world," Wenbin asserted.

"NATO has already messed up Europe," so it should abstain from "attempts to mess up Asia and the rest of the world as well," he added.

China Warns of 'Dangerous' NATO Expansion into Asia-Pacific

News - Middle East:

Amid growing friction, China has called on the NATO military alliance to avoid attempts to start a new Cold War, describing its expansion to the Asian-Pacific region as dangerous.

In his remarks on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin slammed the NATO leaders for their provocative remarks and said the US-led alliance was a product of the Cold War.

"We are calling on NATO to end drawing ideological lines, spreading false reports or making provocative statements about China, and to stop attempts to unleash a new cold war," Wang told reporters.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday said that since the NATO summit in Madrid will address China in a new strategic concept, he welcomes leaders of the alliance’s Asia-Pacific partners - Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea - to the summit.

He called on the NATO members to “realize the rise of China”, adding that he expects that "allies will state that China poses some challenges to our values, our interests, and our security."

Wenbin criticized Stoltenberg’s remarks, describing the military alliance "a tool through which the US maintains its hegemony and manipulates the European security landscape".

He said while NATO was the North Atlantic Treaty Organization originally, it has so far "reached the Asian-Pacific region to show its force".

"These moves are very dangerous and would certainly provoke caution and resolute opposition from Asia-Pacific countries and the entire world," Wenbin asserted.

"NATO has already messed up Europe," so it should abstain from "attempts to mess up Asia and the rest of the world as well," he added.