China angered by NATO's charge that it's a 'decisive enabler' of Russia's war in Ukraine

China on Thursday criticized a draft statement from the NATO summit in Washington, D.C., that described it as a "decisive enabler" of Russia's war effort in Ukraine.

Beijing continues to pose systemic challenges to Europe and to security, the planned statement also said.

Outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this week at a news conference in Washingtonthat China "is propping up Russia war's economy" in what he termed a "major strategic shift."

A spokesperson for the Chinese mission to the European Union described the draft as "full of Cold War mentality and belligerent rhetoric, and China-related content full of provocations, lies, incitement and smears."

"China's core position on the Ukraine issue is to promote peace talks and political settlement, which has been widely recognized and appreciated by the international community," said the spokesperson.

China has broken with the United States and its European allies over the war in Ukraine, refusing to condemn Russia's invasion or even to refer to it as an act of aggression in deference to Moscow. Its trade with Russia has grown since the invasion, at least partially offsetting the impact of Western sanctions.

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Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jin said at a regular press briefing Thursday that the county's trade with Russia is legitimate.

"On the Ukraine crisis, NATO hyped up China's responsibility. It makes no sense and comes with malicious intent," said Lin. "We urge NATO to reflect on the root cause of the crisis and what it has done, and take concrete action to de-escalate rather than shift blame."

Chinese troops in Belarus for drills

Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attended a meeting of leaders or top officials from the 10 Shanghai Co-operation Organization countries in Kazakhstan.

This week, Chinese troops are in Belarus for joint drills near the border with Poland, a NATO member. The exercises are the first with Belarus, an ally of Russia, with which it shares a single-party system under President Alexander Lukashenko, whose regime cracked down brutally on mass protests against his rule in 2020.Lin described the joint training as a normal military operation that is not directed at any particular country.

Beijing put forward a 12-point paper more than a year ago that set out general principles for ending the war, but did not get into specifics. It received a lukewarm reception at the time in both Russia and Ukraine.

Chinese officials on Thursday also repeated charges that NATO has expanded its presence to the Asia-Pacific Region, saying it disrupts the prosperity and stability of the region.

Leaders of Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia are in attendance at the NATO summit in the U.S., having forged stronger ties with the security alliance amid rising concerns over China's aggressions in the South China Sea.

NATO member Hungary hasn't specifically commented on the draft statement, but Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told Hungary's state television on Thursday it does not want, and will not support, NATO becoming an "anti-China" bloc.

Earlier this week, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban paid an unexpected visit to Beijing, meeting with Xi to discuss a potential Ukraine peace deal.

Hungary has become an important trade and investment partner for China, in contrast with many other European nations, who are seeking to become less dependent on Beijing.