TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan on Thursday welcomed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s remarks on China’s growing military power.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Rutte said that China's military expansion is shifting toward combat readiness and that its ambitions to seize Taiwan are increasingly evident, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He warned that if China decides to invade Taiwan, it would likely coordinate with Russia to create conflicts elsewhere and stretch Europe’s capacity to respond.

The secretary general noted that China's navy surpassed that of the US in size, and its nuclear arsenal has exceeded 1,000 warheads. Rutte called on NATO to strengthen its overall military capabilities and enhance cooperation with allies in the Indo-Pacific to counter military aggression.

Since taking office in October 2024, Rutte has consistently spoken out about China’s expansionism and its aggression toward Taiwan, MOFA said. He has also urged the international community to recognize the serious challenges and risks posed by authoritarian states such as China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran to global peace and the international order.

The foreign ministry said that Taiwan will continue to work closely with like-minded partners to jointly safeguard peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and the Taiwan Strait.