BRUSSELS

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday warned China of consequences if it supplies arms to Russia.

Speaking at a news conference after a two-day meeting of NATO foreign affairs ministers, Stoltenberg said “any provision of lethal aid by China to Russia would be a historic mistake with profound implications.”

He said China refused to condemn Russia's war on Ukraine and is aligning itself more and more with Moscow.

China “echoes Russian propaganda, supports Russia's economy” and holds joint military activities in air and sea, Stoltenberg explained.

He stressed that NATO does not “regard China as an adversary,” but Beijing's “assertive behavior” challenges the security interests and values that NATO stands for.

“China is investing heavily in new capabilities,” including long-range nuclear missiles, Stoltenberg said.

Beijing is “cracking down on democratic rights in their own country and in Hong Kong, prosecuting minorities, using social media to have surveillance on the population,” he added.

Stoltenberg underlined the importance of maintaining NATO’s unity and build partnerships with like-minded partners “at a time when Beijing and Moscow are pushing back against the rules-based international order.”

During the meeting, NATO foreign ministers held talks with their counterparts from the Asia-Pacific region, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

Stoltenberg said he invited the heads of state and government of the Asia-Pacific region to participate at the NATO leaders’ summit in July in Vilnius, Lithuania.