The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) poses a growing threat to global democracy, national sovereignty, and international stability. While much of the world’s attention is currently focused on Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, it is crucial not to overlook the broader geopolitical danger that the CCP represents. The Chinese government’s ambitions extend far beyond regional influence; its ultimate goal is to reshape the global order in its favor, challenging the foundations of democracy, freedom, and economic independence.
NATO, primarily tasked with defending Europe from Russian aggression, must broaden its scope to recognize the Chinese threat as a top priority. For decades, the CCP has worked quietly yet aggressively to expand its influence globally, using economic, technological, and military means to undermine democracies and tighten its grip on power. The world can no longer afford to view China’s rise as benign or merely an economic matter. The CCP is a powerful, authoritarian regime with ambitions that stretch well beyond Asia, and it poses a threat more dangerous and insidious than Russia.
In the aftermath of World War II, the Chinese Communist Party, under Mao Zedong, sought to consolidate control at home and exert its influence abroad. However, due to the immediate threat of the Soviet Union, much of the West, including NATO, focused on containing the USSR, leaving Asia largely undefended. This oversight allowed China, under the guise of a socialist revolution, to expand its reach and, in some cases, directly confront Western allies.
The Korean War is a stark example of this. Between 1950 and 1953, China sent 2.4 million troops to fight against American and South Korean forces, contributing significantly to the war’s devastating toll. China’s support for North Korea, along with Soviet logistical and air support, marked a clear instance of CCP aggression. Despite these early signs of China’s ambition, NATO’s efforts remained focused on Europe, giving China space to grow its influence and evade direct confrontation.
Fast forward to the present, and China’s growth under the CCP has been nothing short of remarkable, but it has come at an enormous cost to global stability and democracy. The CCP has expanded its influence through economic manipulation, including the notorious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has entrapped numerous countries in debt, undermining their sovereignty. Under the guise of infrastructure development, the CCP has been able to secure strategic footholds across Africa, Asia, and even Europe.
Through the BRI, the CCP extends loans to developing countries for large-scale infrastructure projects, but these loans often come with steep interest rates and harsh repayment terms. When countries default, China takes control of critical assets, such as ports and telecommunications infrastructure, giving it leverage over those nations’ economies and politics. This is not diplomacy; it is economic imperialism designed to expand China’s sphere of influence at the expense of poorer nations.
While China’s economic ambitions have garnered attention, its military buildup is perhaps the most concerning element of the CCP’s rise. China’s military modernization includes not just conventional forces but also the development of cutting-edge technologies like hypersonic missiles, designed to evade U.S. defense systems. These missiles pose a direct threat to even the most fortified cities, including Washington, D.C., signaling a new era of Chinese military assertiveness.
Moreover, China’s activities in the South China Sea demonstrate its willingness to flout international law. By building artificial islands and militarizing them, China has effectively claimed vast swaths of the South China Sea, despite competing claims from neighboring countries like Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia. This expansionist policy is a clear indication of China’s desire for regional dominance and its readiness to challenge the established global order.
China’s aggressive stance is not limited to its military. It is increasingly clear that the CCP is using its technological prowess to expand its influence in the digital realm. The CCP has been accused of widespread cyber espionage, targeting U.S. and European institutions, companies, and governments. Its theft of intellectual property has allowed China to leapfrog years of research and development, particularly in sectors like defense, artificial intelligence, and telecommunications.
Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant, has been at the center of these concerns. Many experts believe that Huawei’s 5G technology could be used by the CCP to conduct surveillance on foreign governments, corporations, and citizens. Despite warnings from the U.S. and other Western nations, several countries have integrated Huawei’s technology into their critical infrastructure, making them vulnerable to Chinese influence and control.
The CCP’s expansionist ambitions, aggressive military build-up, and technological domination cannot be ignored. It is time for NATO to recognize China as a global threat that is at least as significant as Russia, if not more so. While Russia continues to pose a nuclear threat and remains a destabilizing force in Eastern Europe, China’s economic, military, and technological power far outstrip that of Russia.
NATO should expand its mandate beyond Europe to address the growing threat from China. This could mean inviting key U.S. allies in Asia—such as Japan, South Korea, and even Taiwan—to join NATO. By expanding its membership and scope, NATO can become a truly global alliance capable of countering the CCP’s ambitions.
Critics might argue that NATO’s primary mission should remain focused on Europe, especially in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, this view is short-sighted. The CCP has repeatedly demonstrated that it is a patient and strategic adversary, willing to play the long game to achieve its goals. Ignoring China now will only lead to greater challenges in the future, as the CCP continues to grow its military and technological might while manipulating global institutions to serve its interests. The CCP’s actions demonstrate that it is not just another rising power, but a calculated and aggressive regime seeking to reshape the world order in its image. NATO, as the world’s most powerful military alliance, must evolve to address this new reality. By expanding its membership and focus, NATO can counter the CCP’s global ambitions and protect the values of democracy, freedom, and sovereignty that it was founded to defend. Peace, as history has shown, is achieved through strength—global strength against a global threat.