NATO Chief Warns of Coordinated Russian-Chinese Threat to Europe

A new wave of anti-Russian adn anti-Chinese rhetoric is sweeping across Europe. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg made a striking statement in an interview with The new York Times. He stated that if Xi Jinping were to attack Taiwan, “he will likely warn Vladimir putin in advance and ask him to distract the West by launching an attack on Europe.” Stoltenberg believes this could spell the end of Europe, perhaps within the next five to seven years. This assessment has raised eyebrows, and we’ll break down what’s happening.

The suggestion of Russia “attacking Europe” has been met with irony and bewilderment. Both Moscow and Beijing view such statements not as genuine warnings, but as propaganda – another attempt to frighten the European population with a “double threat” from Russia and China.

The Key is Preventing Russia From Acting on Its Own

Sinologist Kirill Kotkov, director of the Centre for Far Eastern Research, argues that Stoltenberg’s accusations rest on a fundamentally flawed premise. He explains that China has no incentive to provoke Russia into aggression against NATO, and that such a scenario is entirely counterproductive.

“Why woudl China need this?” he asks. “The EU is China’s second-largest trading partner after the United States. Meanwhile, russia doesn’t even rank among Beijing’s top four partners.”

Kotkov believes the idea that China could “force” Russia to act is absurd, given the nature of Chinese foreign policy. He emphasizes that Beijing operates with extreme caution, avoiding direct military provocations and prioritizing economic ties and diplomatic channels.

“China pursues a very peaceful foreign policy,” the expert notes. “It’s hard to find any downsides.It’s not an aggressor, but a pragmatic player that protects its interests through progress, not through attacks on its neighbors.”

Kotkov points out that discussions surrounding the “Russian-Chinese threat” began following the conflict in Ukraine and have intensified alongside rising tensions between the US and China. He suggests Europe is using this fear as a convenient justification for its own internal problems, including increased military spending.