China urges NATO to stop exaggerating 'China threat theory'

China's mission to the European Union urgedNATOon Tuesday to stop exaggerating the "Chinathreat theory" after the group's leaders warned that the country presents "systemic challenges."

NATOleaders on Monday had taken a forceful stance towardBeijing in a communique at United States President Joe Biden's first summit with the alliance.

"China's stated ambitions and assertive behaviour present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to alliance security,"NATOleaders had said.

The new U.S. president has urged his fellowNATOleaders to stand up toChina's authoritarianism and growing military might, a change of focus for an alliance created to defend Europe from the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

TheNATOstatement "slandered"China's peaceful development, misjudged the international situation, and indicated a "Cold War mentality," saidChina's response, posted on the mission's website.

Chinais always committed to peaceful development, it said.

"We will not pose a 'systemic challenge' to anyone, but if anyone wants to pose a 'systemic challenge' to us, we will not remain indifferent."

G7 nations meeting in Britain over the weekend scoldedChinaover human rights in its Xinjiang region, called for Hong Kong to keep a high degree of autonomy and demanded a full investigation of the origins of the coronavirus inChina.

China's embassy in London said it was resolutely opposed to mentions of Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan, which it said distorted the facts and exposed the "sinister intentions of a few countries such as the United States."