“How Chinese Propaganda Exploits the Greenland Conflict.
The demise of NATO is a long-cherished goal of China. Donald Trump’s remarks regarding Greenland—which serve to undermine the alliance—have garnered significant attention in Beijing. ‘NATO has lost its *raison d'être*,’ stated Cui Tiankai, China’s former ambassador to the United States. ‘This transatlantic security alliance no longer serves the long-term interests of its member states.’ What Cui has just openly articulated in Beijing is, at its core, a message that the Chinese power apparatus has been disseminating for a long time. The Western system of alliances and coalitions constitutes a central strategic advantage—one that Beijing itself lacks. Any erosion of this system serves the interests of the Chinese power apparatus.
The threat posed to the alliance by the American President provides Beijing with entirely new avenues for framing its narrative. According to Cui, the Western alliance system ‘no longer aligns with the global pattern of development.’ He argues that NATO today offers no answers regarding global supply chains, the challenges of artificial intelligence, or ‘climate change’—areas in which China plays a decisive role.
Conversely, Cui characterizes Europe’s continued view of Russia as a ‘primary security threat’ as a ‘miscalculation.’ This European mindset, the former ambassador contends, is rooted in the ‘inner demons’ of a worldview shaped during the last century.
The fact that China’s power apparatus repeatedly stands by Russia is intended to avert the isolation of Moscow. Beijing seeks to avoid a bloc-style confrontation akin to that of the Cold War, and aims to prevent the formation of coalitions designed to contain China.
Indeed—despite all the accompanying American rhetoric—the prospect of containing China is becoming increasingly doubtful under Trump. Trump is drawing closer to Putin while simultaneously weakening the West through trade wars. By imposing tariffs on Canada, as well as on European and Asian allies, Trump makes it more difficult for these nations to decouple their economies from China. On the contrary, these middle powers now find themselves compelled to conduct their foreign trade...” ...diversify away from the USA in order to hedge their bets. For China, this serves as proof that multilateralism is "the right path for humanity"—at least insofar as it diminishes American influence.
Officially, China continues to employ formulaic language regarding Greenland: International law, based on the UN Charter, must be upheld, the Foreign Ministry emphasizes. China "urgently" calls upon the USA "to cease misusing the so-called 'China threat' as a pretext for self-serving objectives." Beijing refrains from directing overt criticism at Trump—partly to safeguard its own economy. Bilateral relations are characterized by "dynamic stability," a Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated. For China, a strategy of biding one's time sometimes pays off. For instance, on state television, the prominent political scientist Yan Xuetong recently identified a third pillar of transatlantic alliance strength—one that is now crumbling alongside security and economic cooperation: America’s reputation for upholding morality, the rule of law, and international norms. "This imperialist turn will destroy the USA’s self-identity as a pillar of the rules-based order," Yan predicted, "and potentially entrench the dismantling of international norms within long-term U.S. foreign policy."
This does not, however, signal the end of the West, Yan Xuetong warned elsewhere. European nations are not pursuing a policy of decoupling from the USA on the grounds of differing political systems, Yan observed at a conference at Tsinghua University—an event also attended by Cui. Rather, he argued, conflicts within the Western bloc itself have intensified, having now "far exceeded the threshold at which strategic cooperation among them can be sustained."
For Chinese propaganda, this is a veritable feast. "The spirit of NATO is dead; Europe’s trust in the USA has been shattered," asserts the nationalist blogger Hu Xijin. Should Europe fail to stand up to Trump on the Greenland issue, it risks forfeiting "its sovereignty and dignity." The well-known... Propagandist Jin Canrong described Europe "in its current form" as "useless." Europe, he argued, finds itself in a state similar to that of China during the late Qing Dynasty—the final dynasty before the collapse of the monarchy and the proclamation of the Republic in 1912: "characterized by a fundamentally decadent mentality that does nothing but whine and complain." The People's Republic is currently disseminating the popular narrative of European weakness across numerous channels. Unlike in the past, China is currently relying less on charm offensives and more on exerting increased pressure on Europe, aiming to demonstrate that the Old Continent has few options other than to accept China's perspectives.
For years, Europe has misjudged both its own potential for development and the changing global landscape, and has allowed itself to be overly influenced by its close ties. made itself dependent on the USA," wrote the Chinese party mouthpiece *Global Times* this week, "while neglecting cooperation with other partners such as China and Russia." In doing so, Europe has rendered itself vulnerable to American bullying. Now, it is scarcely in a position to defend itself. Beijing then offers the Europeans this parting advice: "In international relations, there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies; therefore, Europe must approach the situation with clear-eyed realism." Consequently, Europe can hardly expect any accommodation from China.” [1]
1. Pekings Requiem für die NATO. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung; Frankfurt. 22 Jan 2026: 8. Von Jochen Stahnke, Peking
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