R. Nicholas Burns, a former U.S. Ambassador to NATO, recently made headlines for his remarks about China’s alignment with what he calls “agents of disorder.” In a speech at the Aspen Security Forum, Burns expressed concerns about China’s growing influence on the global stage and its potential impact on international security.
Burns, who served as Ambassador to NATO from 2001 to 2005, has been a vocal critic of China’s foreign policy in recent years. He believes that China is actively working to undermine the rules-based international order and support various actors that are destabilizing regions around the world.
In his speech, Burns pointed to China’s support for authoritarian regimes in countries like North Korea and Iran, as well as its military activities in the South China Sea, as evidence of its alignment with what he called “agents of disorder.” He also criticized China for its human rights abuses, including its treatment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province.
Burns’s remarks have sparked a debate about the United States’ approach to China and how best to counter its growing influence. Some experts agree with Burns’s assessment that China poses a threat to international security and must be confronted, while others argue that a more diplomatic approach is needed to address the complex challenges posed by China’s rise.
Regardless of where one stands on the issue, it is clear that China’s role in global affairs is becoming increasingly important and that the United States and its allies must carefully consider how best to respond to China’s actions. As R. Nicholas Burns has pointed out, China’s alignment with what he calls “agents of disorder” is a cause for concern and warrants further attention from policymakers and analysts alike.