Financial Times: Senior Nato officer warns of China’s ‘shocking’ military advances
Stuart Peach points to array of security challenges as well as growing diplomatic presence overseas
Nato’s most senior military officer has highlighted the “shocking” speed of China’s military modernisation and warned of its growing diplomatic presence overseas, as the alliance prepares to take a more assertive stance towards Beijing.
The comments from air chief marshal Sir Stuart Peach highlight the broad array of security challenges posed by China as members of the alliance struggle to progress beyond a diagnosis of the threat to an agreed plan of action.
“It is quite shocking how quickly China has built ships, how much China has modernized its air force, how much it has invested in cyber and other forms of information management, not least facial recognition,” said Peach — who is stepping down on Friday after three years as head of Nato’s military committee — in an interview with the Financial Times before his departure.
“I think it’s very important to keep an eye on that. What do you do if you’re a leader in China with a modernised powerful large force? You deploy it, you move it around,” he said, adding that there is “further work required” among Nato’s 30 member states in deciding what China’s military ambitions mean for the alliance.
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Update #1: China's Rapid Military Evolution 'Shocking,' Says Senior NATO Officer (Newsweek)
Update #2: NATO Official Alarmed by China’s ‘Shocking’ Rise, Predicts Beijing to Soon Be ‘Moving Troops Around’ (Sputnik)
WNU Editor: What is even more shocking is that China shows no interest to slow down its military growth and advances.