China Rejects Trump's 'China Threat' Excuse for Greenland, Backs European Sovereignty

China has accused the United States of fabricating threats to justify its attempt to seize Greenland from Denmark, calling on Washington to stop using Beijing as a "pretext to pursue its own selfish interests."

The statement from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun came after President Donald Trump claimed the United States needs possession of Greenland to counter "Chinese and Russian threats in the Arctic." Trump alleged that Greenland is "covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place."

According to Foreign Policy, the claim is false. China is roughly 4,800 miles from Greenland, and there is no evidence of Chinese military vessels surrounding the island.

Beijing Fires Back

Guo told reporters that international law based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter must be upheld. The spokesperson said China's activities in the Arctic are aimed at promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development in accordance with international law.

"The rights and freedoms of all countries to conduct activities in the Arctic in accordance with the law should be fully respected," Guo said. "The US should not pursue its own interests by using other countries as a pretext."

The remarks drew significant attention on social media, with many pointing out the irony of Trump invoking a distant nation's threat while attempting to colonize European territory.

The statement followed Trump's announcement that the United States would impose 10 percent tariffs on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, and Finland starting February 1, rising to 25 percent by June unless a deal is reached for the United States to purchase Greenland.

This marks an unusual moment in international relations: a geopolitical rival of the West defending European territorial integrity while the United States threatens its own NATO allies.

Europe Stands United

Eight European countries issued a joint statement condemning the tariff threats. The leaders of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom warned that Trump's actions "undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral."

According to NPR, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest and stood in "full solidarity" with Denmark and Greenland.

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded: "Europe will not be blackmailed."

The response has been equally fierce from across the Atlantic. A bipartisan US congressional delegation visited Denmark to express solidarity, with Senator Chris Coons telling NBC News: "If the United States were to carry out any of the current threats against Greenland, it would sever NATO."

Protests and European Resistance

Thousands took to the streets across Denmark and Greenland on January 17 in some of the largest protests ever held on the island. According to NPR, an estimated 5,000 people gathered in Greenland's capital Nuuk, a significant proportion of the territory's 56,000 population.

Protesters waved signs reading "Greenland is not for sale" and "Make America Go Away." Red hats parodying Trump's campaign slogan became symbols of resistance.

The European Union has begun weighing retaliatory measures. German MEP Bernd Lange called for the activation of the Anti-Coercion Instrument, known as the EU's "trade bazooka." French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly supported the measure during an emergency EU meeting.

Denmark has also sent additional troops to Greenland in response to Trump's threats.

A Strange Bedfellow for Europe

The spectacle of China defending Danish sovereignty while the United States threatens tariffs on NATO allies represents a significant shift in global alignments. For Europeans, the situation creates an uncomfortable paradox: a rival power is now championing the principles of territorial integrity and international law that Washington claims to uphold.

This comes as American allies increasingly look to diversify away from dependence on Washington. Japan, Australia, South Korea, and New Zealand have applied to join the EU's Security Action for Europe programme, while Canada has announced a strategic partnership with Beijing.

The reply sentiment to China's statement has been mixed but revealing. Many Western observers expressed discomfort at agreeing with Beijing but acknowledged the validity of China's point.

"It's pretty scary when China makes more sense and is being perceived as the good guy when compared to the US but here we are," wrote one user.

Another noted: "Calling someone a threat while trying to colonize Greenland is actually peak irony."

What This Means for Europe

For the European Union, China's intervention offers both opportunity and caution. Beijing's support for territorial integrity in this case aligns with European interests, but the EU remains wary of China's own territorial ambitions, particularly regarding Taiwan.

The episode demonstrates that European strategic autonomy is no longer optional. When the United States treats allies as targets and rivals as role models, Europe must chart its own course.

As polling shows, even most Americans oppose Trump's Greenland ambitions, with three in four rejecting military force against a NATO ally. The question is whether that sentiment translates into policy before lasting damage is done to the transatlantic relationship.

For now, Europe stands united, with unlikely rhetorical support from Beijing. The world has indeed become stranger when China lectures Washington on respecting sovereignty.