After 70 years of cooperation on defense it is time to discuss China. It is Nato allies agreed.

China's influence is growing, but despite the world's second largest defense budget, China has until now not been part of Nato's strategic considerations.

It is now over. On Wednesday, when Nato 29 the heads of state and government will meet to the north of London to mark the 70th anniversary of the forsvarsalliancen, China is on the program.

It tells the Nato secretary general before the summit.

- China has not previously been on the program. But we have now realized that China's greater influence has great significance for all allies.

- There are some options. But there are also challenges, said Nato secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, on Tuesday in connection with a small meeting before the summit itself.

China may, with the missiles reaching targets in both Europe and the UNITED states. To the 29 Nato allies focus on China does not mean, however, that, for example, is on the road to advance into The south china Sea, which is a currently disputed territory.

China has according to the UNITED states set up military weapons in the area, among other things, missiles to sink ships, ground-to-air missiles and electronic equipment to sabotage the electronic communication.

China has built on very small islands and rocky outcrops.

- It is not about to move Nato to The south china Sea. But China is coming closer to us. We must just understand that it has consequences for us.

- For the first time, we have recognized that we must look at it together. We should not create a new enemy. But we need to talk about it, says Stoltenberg.

Forsvarsalliancen was established in 1949, as the cold war was on the way, and then there was one enemy: the Soviet union.

Since the soviet communist rule collapsed in 1990, Nato has in recent years focused against a number of other regions and threats.

- China is after the UNITED states ranks second in the world in terms of defence spending, and the country has recently demonstrated new capabilities - including nuclear weapons, says Stoltenberg, as he arrives for the summit, north of London.

/ritzau/