NATO Official Urges Global Action to Curtail China’s Support for Russia

In a notable statement during his visit to Japan, Jakub Landovsky, the permanent Czech representative to NATO, called for international intervention to block China’s support for Russia. Landovsky emphasized the critical importance of preventing further collaboration between the two nations and characterized China’s maritime ambitions as a significant challenge to the established international order.

“We should work on preventing China from supporting Russia more on the field. It’s very important,” Landovsky stated, addressing the media during his visit to Japan. He underscored the urgency of engaging with China on these matters and elaborated on the need for a collective effort to address this issue.

Landovsky, along with other visiting NATO representatives, held discussions with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on Monday, focusing on collaborative strategies to address global challenges. Landovsky highlighted the importance of engaging with China on global issues such as climate change while simultaneously sending a clear message that international rules must be observed.

Expressing concern over China’s military activities in the South China Sea and eastern China, Landovsky commended bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral efforts in the region. He clarified that these initiatives were not aimed at containing China but rather at promoting a rule-based world order and ensuring freedom of navigation, crucial for global trade.

Despite recognizing the “One China” policy, which regards Taiwan and the mainland as a single nation, Landovsky stressed the significance of Taiwan’s partnership. He advocated for candidly addressing differences with China while emphasizing the importance of adhering to established norms.

Responding to a question about supporting a proposed NATO liaison office in Tokyo, Landovsky expressed his wholehearted endorsement. He pointed to the upcoming NATO summit in Washington in July, marking the 75th anniversary of the alliance’s establishment. He expressed hope for deepening ties with the Indo-Pacific region and anticipated Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s attendance at the summit.

Landovsky’s strong support for NATO membership for Ukraine was evident, emphasizing the need for internal reforms and external success in the ongoing conflict as preconditions. He called for sustained, long-term support for Ukraine, citing the words of former Czech President Vaclav Havel: “Hope is not about doing things that will materialize in the end. It’s about doing the right thing, regardless of how it all ends.” Landovsky’s visit underscores NATO’s commitment to addressing global challenges and fostering international cooperation to maintain a stable and rules-based world order.