The NATO summit was held on June 24–25 in The Hague. Chinese Communist Party controlled state media Xinhua News Agency and Huanqiu Times published commentaries.
Xinhua: The New NATO Plan Is Hard for Europe to Digest
The summit appeared largely as a performance of unity designed to appease the U.S. A key outcome was the commitment by NATO members to raise defense spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2035. However, this superficial consensus masks deep internal divisions.
The U.S. aims to maximize its global dominance at minimal cost, while Europe prioritizes security and strategic autonomy. Trump’s double standard – refusing to meet the 5 percent target for the U.S. while demanding other countries do – has caused resentment among European countries, many of whom are hesitant to speak out.
Moreover, the sharp increase in defense spending is expected to primarily benefit the U.S. military-industrial complex. Analysts argue this is more a massive wealth transfer to the U.S. than genuine progress toward European defense independence.
Huanqiu Times: Asia-Pacific Countries Distance Themselves from NATO
Notably, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese all skipped the summit. NATO’s attempt to extend its influence by labeling China a “challenge” conflicts with its own treaty, which limits its scope to the North Atlantic region and forbids interference in Asia-Pacific affairs. China has repeatedly warned against NATO’s overreach, describing its Asia-Pacific ambitions as blatant geopolitical expansion.
The absence of these Asia-Pacific leaders sends a clear message: they refuse to become pawns in great-power rivalry or endorse an expanding NATO. This may also signal a growing political awakening in the region.
Sources:
1. Xinhua, June 26, 2025
http://www.news.cn/world/20250626/2ec6f042517740d38f80e1232b8259ca/c.html
2. Huanqiu Times, June 26, 2025
https://opinion.huanqiu.com/article/4NFxMsLy2sc