Rutte’s remarks were made Thursday during a speech at the Carnegie Europe Think Tank in Brussels.
“We need to keep a close eye on China’s ambitions,” he said. “China has significantly increased its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, with no transparency or restraint, including 200 nuclear warheads in 2020. “China is expected to possess more than 1,000 nuclear warheads.” China is rapidly increasing investment in space launches and seeking access to critical infrastructure, bullying Taiwan in ways that could paralyze society. ”
The NATO Secretary-General also highlighted the challenges posed by China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, claiming that these countries are undermining “freedom” and seeking to “rebuild the world order.”
He added: “Not only Russia and China, but also North Korea and Iran, are working hard to undermine North America and Europe. They want to reshape the world order in order to chip away at our freedoms. Not that they want to build a more just order, but they are testing us to secure their own sphere of influence, and the rest of the world is taking notice.”
Rutte also sounded the alarm about China’s increasing military and technological advances and warned of their implications for global security. “China’s military industrial base is also expanding. According to some sources, China is acquiring sophisticated weapons systems and equipment five to six times faster than the United States. China is also building on our technological superiority by investing heavily in future disruptive technologies such as AI, quantum, and space. We are up to the challenge,” Rutte said. In particular, the issue between Taiwan and China is complex, with a long-standing geopolitical dispute centering on Taiwan’s sovereignty.
Formally known as the Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan operates its own government, military, and economy and functions as a de facto independent state.
However, China regards Taiwan as a separate province and insists on the “One China” policy, which states that there is one China with Beijing as its capital.
This has heightened tensions that have been building for decades, especially since the 1945-1949 Chinese Civil War, when the Republic of China government withdrew to Taiwan after Mao Zedong’s Communist Party took control of mainland China.
The Chinese government has consistently expressed its goal of reunification with Taiwan, using diplomatic, economic, and military pressure to isolate the island internationally. Meanwhile, Taiwan continues to maintain its independence with the support of the majority of its population.
