‘s Asian correspondent followed the hot commentary on China’s social media about Finland’s NATO decision. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers Finland’s application for membership in NATO to be a significant development.
16.5. 15:15 • Updated May 16th. 15:19
BEIJING China considers Finland’s decision to apply for NATO membership a “significant development”. This was stated by a representative of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Zhao Lijian EPN’s question at a daily press conference in Beijing. However, he did not answer the question of what risks it would bring to relations between China and Finland.
However, it is clear that China is opposed to NATO enlargement. Country leader Xi Jinping thus affirming the oath of friendship and cooperation with the President of Russia Vladimir Putin with the opening day of the Beijing Winter Olympics. China sees NATO as a tool for the growth of US influence. It has not condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Zhao referred to China’s previous comments on European security regarding Finland’s accession to NATO. The view is still the same and clear, Zhao said. China has repeatedly said in the past that the expansion of military alliances does not guarantee regional security. It has also called for Russia’s security concerns to be taken into account.
Zhao Lijian said that relations between China and Finland have always been friendly.
– Of course, Finland’s application for membership in NATO brings a new factor to the relationship, he estimates.
Director of the China Globalization Incubator Wang Huiyao predicts that Finland’s NATO decision may increase insecurity in Europe, as Finland’s long eastern border will also become a border with NATO.
– Russia started a war (in Ukraine) due to NATO’s expansion to the east. Now the expansion continues, he says.
Wang’s incubator is one of China’s government advisers.
Wang understands Finland’s security concerns. However, he considers the NATO decision to be risky, as Finland is now abandoning its line of military non-alignment for decades.
– Intentions can be good, but the result can be risk. But it is the decision of the Finns and they live with it. We don’t want to see another Ukraine, Wang says.
Some of China got hot
Finland’s decision to apply for NATO membership is hard on China’s social media. The topic was viewed 210 million times during the evening and has garnered over 7,000 comments. For an hour, Finland’s NATO membership was the most popular topic of discussion for Weibo, such as China’s Twitter.
From the Chinese media, the English-language channel of the state TV company CGTN (switch to another service)criticized Finland’s decision openly in Weibo. “The more countries want NATO, the safer Europe will be. It could lead to a new Cold War that is worse than the last one. ” The CGTN update said.
Other media mainly briefly reported on Finland’s announcement to apply for NATO. The updates were hotly commented on. Most commentators criticize Finland’s decision or predict it to be a risk to the country’s security.
“Congratulations to Finland. It has become a US puppet. It looks like we are not far from World War III, ”the commentator wrote Phoenix Weekly (switch to another service) under the Weibo update of the magazine.
“If Russia really gets annoyed and outraged and does something reckless, the whole world could be in trouble,” predicted another author of the English-speaking Party, which received the most comments from the Chinese Communist Party. Global Times (switch to another service) under the Weibo update.
“NATO is a garbage organization that is concerned that the world is not confused enough,” the commentator said NATO should have ceased operations after the fall of the Warsaw Pact.
Many commentators see Finland’s NATO decision as an indication of the growing influence of the United States.
“A new game of great powers has begun. Of course, Finland is not a great power, but the United States is behind it. ” “I do not understand. Is Europe a European or an American Europe? ” another asked.
Understanders call Finland a neighbor of a hooligan
Former editor-in-chief of Global Times Hu Xijin comments in Weibo that the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO is a new blow to Russia ‘s strategic security.
According to him, the reason for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is to stop NATO’s expansion to the east, but the weapons Ukraine has received from the West show that it did not succeed.
“Although Ukraine no longer nominally aspires to NATO, the war has strengthened the Kiev regime’s military and political ties with the United States and NATO.
“Putin’s achievement is that Europe was reunited,” the Weibo user wrote.
“If neither joining NATO nor independence guarantees security, I would choose to join NATO too. At least I would get background support, ”says another.
“This is a vicious circle. Everyone is trying to get as much security as possible but end up feeling even more insecure, ”a third commented worriedly.
The Phoenix Weekly update commented for and against.
Its commentators also had enough understanding for Finland. “Being a neighbor of a hooligan is definitely a nightmare for anyone,” the commentator wrote.
“I do not think that Finland suffers in the same way as Ukraine. Russia will not survive in two countries at the same time. ” another commentator pondered.
“The last time the Soviet Union fought against Finland, it lost 370,000 troops and Finland lost 100,000. Now Russia must be vigilant.” reviewed by one author.
Many wonder if history is repeating itself: “NATO is the product of the Cold War, so is the Cold War making a comeback?”