NUUK, Greenland (AP) — China said Monday that the United States should not use other countries as a “pretext” to pursue its interests in Greenland and said its activities in the Arctic comply with international law.

The comment from a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson came in response to a question at a regular daily briefing. US President Donald Trump has said he would like to strike a deal to acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous region of NATO ally Denmark, to prevent Russia or China from taking it over.

Tensions have risen between Washington, Denmark and Greenland this month as Trump and his administration push the issue and the White House considers a variety of options, including military force, to acquire the vast Arctic island.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that a US takeover of Greenland would mark the end of NATO. On Friday, Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and the leaders of the four other parties in the territory’s parliament issued a joint statement reiterating that Greenland’s future must be decided by its people and emphasizing their “desire to see an end to the United States’ contempt for our country.”

President Donald Trump reiterated his argument that the United States needs to “take Greenland,” otherwise Russia or China would do it, in comments aboard Air Force One on Sunday.
President Donald Trump reiterated his argument that the United States needs to “take Greenland,” otherwise Russia or China would do it, in comments aboard Air Force One on Sunday.

ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS via Getty Images

Trump reiterated his argument that the United States needs to “take Greenland,” otherwise Russia or China would do it, in comments aboard Air Force One on Sunday. He said he would prefer to “make a deal” for the territory, “but one way or another, we’re going to have Greenland.”

In 2018, China declared itself a “near-Arctic state” in an effort to gain more influence in the region. Beijing has also announced plans to build a “Polar Silk Road” as part of its global Belt and Road Initiative, which has created economic ties with countries around the world.

Asked in Beijing on Monday about U.S. statements that it is necessary for Washington to seize Greenland to prevent China and Russia from taking control, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning responded that “China’s activities in the Arctic aim to promote peace, stability and sustainable development in the region and are in accordance with international law.” He did not provide further details about those activities.

“The rights and freedoms of all countries to conduct activities in the Arctic in accordance with the law must be fully respected,” Mao said, without directly mentioning Greenland. “The United States should not pursue its own interests using other countries as a pretext.”

He said that “the Arctic concerns the general interests of the international community.”

Danish and Greenlandic envoys are expected to visit Washington this week for talks, and plans are also being drawn up for U.S. senators to visit Denmark.