During a meeting in Brussels, representatives of the National People’s Congress of China questioned NATO’s right to continue existing. The shocking remarks were made in the presence of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), who did not hide their outrage.
Chinese officials repeat Russian narratives
It was the first meeting in seven years between a delegation from the European Parliament and representatives of the Chinese parliament. The talks were meant to be a step toward normalizing relations after Beijing lifted sanctions on some MEPs. However, instead of easing tensions, the encounter turned into a heated confrontation. German MEP Engin Eroglu, head of the delegation for relations with China, expressed astonishment at the words of the Chinese representatives, saying “During the meeting, the Chinese side questioned NATO’s right to exist. I have never before heard anyone express such an opinion publicly,” as quoted by Euractiv.
According to Eroglu, the Chinese representatives argued that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) lost its justification:
“From the Chinese point of view, after the fall of the USSR, there is no longer any reason for NATO to exist. I find that absurd in light of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the countries of Eastern Europe,” the MEP added.
Slovak MEP Miriam Lexmann spoke in a similar tone, saying “This was not a dialogue. There was no attempt to answer our questions,” emphasizing that the Chinese delegation repeated statements aligned with the Russian narrative about the war in Ukraine.
Lexmann pointed out that she also raised the issue of human rights violations in Tibet, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong. The Chinese delegation – as she reported – avoided direct answers and responded evasively. The meeting, which was meant to serve as an attempt to rebuild relations between Brussels and Beijing, ended in tense failure. For many MEPs, the statements made by the Chinese representatives were a clear signal that Beijing openly supports Moscow’s narrative and seeks to undermine the role of the West in global security structures.
Observers warn that such actions may be part of a broader Chinese strategy which – alongside Russia – involves conducting a hybrid information and economic war against Europe. According to analysts, this also serves as a clear warning to NATO member states, including Poland, which remains one of the key pillars of security in the region.