China's embassy in UK accuses NATO of 'smearing and scapegoating'

China firmly opposes NATO's "smearing and scapegoating" of China, its embassy in Britain said on Wednesday in response to remarks NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte made about Beijing's military build-up earlier this week.

NATO should correct its "misperception" of China, stop peddling its "security anxiety" and "using China as an excuse for its continued military build-up and disruption of global and regional security," a Chinese embassy spokesperson said in a statement.

At a Chatham House event in London on Monday, Rutte said China, working with Russia, North Korea and Iran, is "modernising and expanding its military at breakneck speed," according to his speech published on NATO's website.