The US Secretary of State has warned China that there will be “consequences” if it lends material backing to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In an interview following meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, Antony Blinken stated that Washington was concerned that Beijing was considering sending weapons to Russia.
The two superpowers’ senior ambassadors met on the margins of a global security conference in Munich at an unknown location.
Only hours before, Mr Wang called Washington “hysterical” in a long-running quarrel over the Americans shooting down a suspected Chinese spy balloon.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since Washington claimed that China launched a spy balloon over the continental United States before being shot down by US fighter planes.
In an interview to be aired on Sunday morning on NBC News’ Meet the Press with Chuck Todd, Mr Blinken said the United States was very concerned that China is considering sending lethal support to Russia and that he made plain to Mr Wang that “would have major ramifications in our relationship”.
“There are numerous types of deadly support that they are at least considering delivering, including weapons,” Mr Blinken said, adding that Washington would provide more information soon.
According to a brief statement provided by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Wang warned Blinken that the US must “face up to and address the damage” caused by “indiscriminate use of force” to bilateral relations.
The ambassador was referring to the recent downing of a weather-monitoring craft, which Washington said was a spy balloon.
A senior State Department official told reporters on a briefing call that China was attempting to “have it both ways,” stating it wanted to contribute to peace and stability while also taking “concerning” steps to back Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Mr. Blinken “was pretty direct in warning about the implications and repercussions of China providing material support to Russia or supporting Russia with systematic sanctions evasion,” according to the senior source.
Last February, just before Russian armies invaded Ukraine, Beijing and the Kremlin declared a “no limits” alliance, and their commercial ties have grown as Moscow’s relations with the West deteriorated.
The West has been concerned of China’s reaction to the Ukraine conflict, with some warning that a Russian win could have ramifications for China’s behaviour towards Taiwan.
China has so far refrained from denouncing the war or even branding it a “invasion”.
Earlier in the meeting, Mr Wang appealed for diplomacy and advised European countries to “think carefully” about how to end the war.
He went on to say that “certain forces appear to be opposed to negotiations succeeding or the war ending soon,” without naming them.
