(Adds NATO statement, comments on Huawei and 5G, changes
dateline)
By Phil Stewart and Robin Emmott
WATFORD, England, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Seventy years since its
Cold War-era founding as a transatlantic alliance focused on
Moscow, NATO is expanding its gaze towards the increasingly
muscular challenge posed by China.
But it is unclear, even to diplomats within the 29-member
military alliance, whether NATO is up to the task - especially
at a time of intense internal divisions and acrimony that were
on full display heading into this week's summit. In a statement issued after they met on the outskirts of
London on Wednesday, NATO leaders said: "We recognise that
China's growing influence and international policies present
both opportunities and challenges that we need to address
together as an Alliance."
The United States is leading the charge for a greater focus
on China and is confident of a receptive audience in much of
Europe, where concerns are mounting about Beijing's growing
economic leverage, in particular.
In a shift in tone earlier this year, the European
Commission, the European Union's executive, described China as a
"systemic rival" and urged the bloc to be more assertive after
years of welcoming Chinese investment virtually unhindered.
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, in an interview with
Reuters, said there was an increasing understanding in Europe
about the challenges posed by China's rapidly expanding military
might, which includes everything from hypersonic weaponry to
aircraft carriers.
"China is a strategic challenge for us and we need to get
ahead of that," Esper said.
"That doesn't mean that China right now is an enemy. But we
need to help shape that together as an alliance. And we need to
be prepared in case things do turn out in a way we prefer they
not."
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted ahead of the
alliance's summit that China was the world's second-largest
defence spender, after the United States.
"It's not about moving NATO into the South China Sea, but
it's about taking into account the fact that China is coming to
closer to us," he said, pointing to Chinese activity in the
Arctic, Africa and heavy investments in European infrastructure.
The United States, in particular, wants European allies to
ban equipment from Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei,
saying its gear could be used by Beijing for spying.
Huawei, which denies Washington's allegations, said in
October that half of the 65 commercial deals that it had signed
were with European customers building 5G mobile phone networks.
The NATO leaders said in their communique that they were
committed to ensuring their countries had secure 5G
communications, without mentioning Huawei.
Trump, however, referred directly to Huawei as "a security
danger", telling a news conference he had assurances from Italy
and other countries that they would not pursue deals with the
company.
NATO'S NEXT ADVERSARY?
One NATO diplomat said there was broad agreement that China
was "part of our strategic environment" but cautioned about the
limits of European unity on the push.
"Some allies would be tempted to please Trump and present
China as NATO's next adversary, but most Europeans know this
does not represent their national interest," the diplomat said,
speaking on condition of anonymity.
Another diplomat cautioned that China would not become
NATO's adversary.
"China is not the new Russia. This is not about declaring
China as the new enemy," the diplomat said. "China is the rising
power of the 21st century."
Derek Chollet, a former senior Pentagon official during the
Obama administration, said European officials increasingly share
the U.S. view of China as a strategic challenge but questioned
the extent to which Beijing would become a NATO focus.
"No question there is an opportunity," said Chollet, who is
now at the German Marshall Fund think-tank. "It is unlikely,
however, to ever be a core NATO task."
Part of the China plan at NATO is based around seven
baseline requirements on which NATO allies must assess the
risks. These include the risks of consequences of Chinese
ownership of communications and NATO plans to restore
communications in case of disruption.
It also includes ensuring NATO has ownership of strategic
weapons and infrastructure and what NATO's maritime posture
should be vis-à-vis China.