In a joint statement issued last week, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) signaled the expansion of its focus to Asia as it seeks to respond to the rise of China as an economic and military power.

Observers have keyed in on the communique’s direct comments on China: It describes Beijing as posing “systemic challenges” to the global order, as opposed to being a “threat” like Russia, while leaving the door open for cooperation on issues like climate change.

But the joint statement also makes clear that NATO’s interest in Asia goes beyond just relations with China, as it states