NATO Warns of Massive Chinese Military Buildup Threatening Taiwan, Europe

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has expressed serious concern over China's massive military buildup, warning it raises the risk of a conflict over Taiwan that could involve Russia and impact European security. He highlighted that China now has several defense companies among the world's top ten, signaling a rapid expansion of its military-industrial capacity. Rutte emphasized the close relationships NATO maintains with Indo-Pacific partners such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, all of whom are very worried about China’s military activities. He cautioned that if China attempts an invasion of Taiwan, it could prompt Russia to create distractions in Europe, underscoring the necessity for NATO members to increase defense spending and maintain readiness. The alliance plans to meet the 2014 target of 2 percent GDP defense spending this year and introduce a new benchmark of 5 percent at the summit. Additionally, Rutte reaffirmed NATO's unwavering support for Ukraine and stressed the importance of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.