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Beijing said Thursday that it opposes the use of “China-threat” claims about Greenland, and urged the upholding of UN Charter principles in handling international relations.

"China always believes that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be upheld when handling relations between countries," Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a news conference in Beijing.

"The so-called China threat is baseless.”

His remarks came after NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance would take steps to “ensure that the Chinese and the Russians will not gain access" to Greenland’s economy or military infrastructure.

Rutte and President Donald Trump met Wednesday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, amid tensions between Europe and the US about Greenland.

Trump stated on his Truth Social platform that a framework for a potential deal involving Greenland and the broader Arctic region had been established.

The US president has shown interest in Greenland because of its strategic Arctic location, rich mineral resources and concerns about increasing Russian and Chinese influence in the region.

Denmark and Greenland have rejected proposals to sell the territory, reaffirming Danish sovereignty over the island.​​​​​​​