Partner, systemowy rywal czy przeciwnik? Dziesięć uwag o polityce NATO wobec Chin
A partner, a systemic rival or an adversary? Ten remarks on NATO’s policy towards China

Summary/Abstract: The NATO–China relationship emerged as a strategic issue towards the end of the 20th century. Initially, it was the result of the 1999 crisis in Kosovo and of the September 11 attacks. With the growing role of China as a global player, NATO started to perceive China as a new, even if not yet critical, reference point in its strategic considerations. However, from China’s perspective, unilateral relations with NATO countries are preferable, as they help to mitigate the risks of coordinated Western policy toward China and increase China’s room for political manoeuvres. China became the subject of official NATO declarations in 2019, as the result of US diplomatic pressure. From the US, European, and Chinese perspective, the role of the alliance is and could be different, which creates natural discrepancies, especially within NATO. Both defensive and offensive needs of the alliance in the context of China need to be addressed. They include not only political and military challenges, but – more importantly in the long-term – financial, economic, and technological issues. Coordination of policies between NATO’s members in the context of China is not an easy task, also in the light of different interpretations of legal boundaries set by the Washington Treaty. However, it is not only possible but necessary. There are certain common points that might help to build strategic dialogue and a common stance towards China within the alliance.

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