Don’t send weapons to Russia for Ukraine war, U.S. warns China
U.S. intelligence suggests China is contemplating offering arms and ammunition to Russia, an involvement within the Kremlin’s conflict effort in Ukraine that may be a “significant issue,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned.
Blinken mentioned the USA has lengthy been involved that China would supply weapons to Russia.
He pointed to Chinese language chief Xi Jinping’s promise to Russian President Vladimir Putin of a partnership with “no limits” after they met simply weeks earlier than Putin despatched his troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Since then, ties between the 2 nations have solely grown stronger.
“We have been watching this very, very carefully. And, for probably the most half, China has been engaged in offering rhetorical, political, diplomatic assist to Russia, however we’ve info that provides us concern that they’re contemplating offering deadly assist to Russia within the conflict in opposition to Ukraine,” Blinken mentioned in an interview that aired Sunday.
The day earlier than, he attended a gathering at a safety convention in Munich with Wang Yi, the Chinese language Communist Celebration’s most senior overseas coverage official.
“It was vital for me to share very clearly with Wang Yi that this might be a significant issue,” Blinken mentioned.
WATCH | U.S. warns China not to send weapons to Russia:
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U.S. warns China not to help Russia in Ukraine conflict
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China not to present help to Russia to assist with its conflict in opposition to Ukraine. ‘Based mostly on the data we’ve, they’re contemplating offering deadly assist and that may trigger a significant issue in our relationship,’ Blinken mentioned in an interview with CBS on the Munich Safety Convention on Saturday.
‘Catastrophic’ for U.S.-China relations: senator
With Putin decided to present some progress on the battlefield because the conflict nears the one-year mark, Russian forces have been on the offensive in Japanese Ukraine.
“The Ukrainians are holding very sturdy, the Russians are struggling horrific losses on this effort,” Blinken mentioned. He estimated that Russia has 97 per cent of its floor troops in Ukraine.
The Russians are additionally keen to seize extra territory earlier than Ukraine receives the extra superior weapons not too long ago pledged by the U.S. and its European allies.
“However what Secretary Blinken mentioned is huge information to me,” mentioned Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who represents South Carolina. Graham mentioned the world ought to “come down laborious on China” if it gives deadly weapons to Russia, and he suggested Chinese language leaders not to do something rash.
Graham mentioned it might be the “most catastrophic factor that might occur to the U.S.-China relationship…. That may change every thing eternally.”
Tensions between Washington and Beijing have been heightened in latest weeks after the U.S. shot down what it says was a Chinese language spy balloon. China insists it was used primarily for meteorological analysis and was blown off track.
WATCH | World leaders pledge assist for Ukraine: 
World leaders pledge assist for Ukraine, search diplomatic methods to finish battle
World leaders on the Munich Safety Convention pledged to sustain the manufacturing of their navy stockpile so as to assist Ukraine’s combat in opposition to Russia. However there have not been any substantial pledges on Ukraine’s key ask for heavier weapons like fighter jets.
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, additionally expressed her concern about any effort by the Chinese language to arm Russia, saying “that may be a crimson line.”
Retired common Jack Keane, a former U.S. military vice-chief of workers, mentioned he agreed with the Biden administration’s choice to expose China’s attainable readiness to present some deadly weapons to Russia. He mentioned it could persuade China to maintain off.
“And I feel popping out and exposing — and I’d go additional and inform them what we expect they’re making an attempt to present — China will pull again doubtless after that public publicity,” Keane mentioned.
Blinken and Graham have been on ABC’s This Week, Thomas-Greenfield appeared on CNN’s State of the Union and Keane spoke on Fox Information Sunday.
