Hysteria of the defeated: NATO wants to steal Chinese infrastructure to use in war

Coffee Note: This is so unbelievable that it almost sounds like a parody of reality. The hysteria of NATO leaders seems to have no limits. It is sad to see so many democratic countries bowing to this petty, hateful and apocalyptic logic.

While China invests in infrastructure, NATO countries invest in war. Then they come up with lies that China has “overproduction”. No. China invests in infrastructure and technology, instead of investing in wars. That is the difference.

And now NATO countries, the same ones that neglect investments in technology and infrastructure, want to steal Chinese infrastructure to use in… war?

Serious?

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Below, the news published a short while ago by CNN.

NATO allies are discussing the recovery of some Chinese-owned infrastructure in Europe

NATO officials are discussing taking steps to restore some Chinese-owned infrastructure projects in Europe if a broader conflict with Russia erupts in the east of the continent, three officials involved in the discussions said.

A decade ago, when Europe was still recovering from the global economic crisis, the promise of infrastructure financing from Chinese investment firms seemed like a huge boon.

Now, with the largest ground war raging in Europe since World War II — and the West warning about Beijing’s support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — NATO countries now see those investments as a liability, with allies beginning to discuss ways to revive some of those projects, the officials said.

The fear, according to a U.S. official, is that Beijing could use its infrastructure in Europe to provide material assistance to Russia if the conflict escalates. The goal, the officials said, is to find a way forward well in advance of any potential conflict.

The discussions reflect a growing focus on China by the NATO alliance. The joint statement issued Wednesday by the 32 leaders at their 75th anniversary summit in Washington strongly highlighted Beijing’s support for Moscow, in a move seen as a sign of progress by members eager to take a tougher stance against Beijing after a similar reference was omitted in 2023.

“The deepening strategic partnership between Russia and the People’s Republic of China and their mutually reinforcing attempts to undermine and reshape the rules-based international order,” the statement said, “are a cause for deep concern.”

Discussions on taking action on infrastructure, according to three officials involved in them, are still in the early stages and have seen varying levels of engagement among NATO member states. One NATO diplomat suggested that the United States, which is leading the discussions, would need to continue discussions on a bilateral basis to secure the necessary support.

From rail lines connecting Eastern Europe to China to ports located on the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, China has financed tens of billions of dollars in infrastructure investment under its Belt and Road Initiative, which European nations began signing on to in 2013.

A NATO official said that if war broke out, the infrastructure “would almost certainly be nationalized, or nations would temporarily assume operational control under emergency security measures. China could sue them in court later.”

U.S. officials see a precedent for such acquisitions or sales in moves by European nations to force Russia to sell assets after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. For more than a year, Finland repeatedly blocked deals for the Helsinki Shipyard — a producer of icebreakers that was previously owned by a Russian entity — until Russia in late 2023 sold the company to a Canada-based entity.

A senior US official says discussions have expanded beyond low-tech interests to also include high-tech interests such as quantum computing, semiconductors and telecommunications infrastructure.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that the war in Ukraine may be the reason why European and Asian nations have become aware that their security is intertwined.

“Perhaps this was crystallized by Ukraine, when Prime Minister Kishida of Japan said that what is happening in Europe today could happen in East Asia tomorrow. When Russia committed its aggression, its renewed aggression against Ukraine, and Japan stood up, South Korea stood up, Australia, New Zealand, that was a reflection of this recognition that these challenges are linked,” Blinken told the NATO forum.

But while most NATO member states have expressed some level of concern about Chinese-owned infrastructure, two officials involved in the discussions said France in particular has tried to shift infrastructure discussions to the European Union, which has authority over other economic issues.

Tensions from France and other countries, officials say, have impacted the language in the statement, with countries arguing that NATO is not the best platform to challenge China — but many member states still harbor a very real fear that Beijing could use its physical assets against the alliance in the future and continue to press for the alliance to defend itself against the threat.

Speaking in Washington in mid-June ahead of the summit, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Beijing must face consequences for its support for Russia on the battlefield in Ukraine.

By Kayla Tausche and Kylie Atwood, for CNN