China to supply arms and ammunition to Russia?
Key takeaways:
- Blinken says China to supply arms and ammunition to Russia.
The US says China to supply arms and ammunition to Russia for the Ukraine battle – a claim vehemently refused by Beijing.
China to help Russia with weapons?
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Chinese companies were already offering “non-lethal support” to Russia, and new data suggested Beijing could offer “lethal aid”.
He cautioned that such an escalation would mean “serious consequences” for China. Beijing said the claims were wrong and blamed Washington for spreading lies.
“We do not take the United States’ finger-pointing on China-Russia ties, let alone force and pressure,” China’s foreign ministry representative Wang Wenbin said at a regular press conference on Monday when questioned about the allegations.
China has also refused information that Moscow has asked for military equipment.
About Russia and China’s relations:
Chinese President Xi Jinping is a supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin and is yet to blame Russia’s attack on Ukraine – but he has sought to stay neutral in the battle and has asked for peace.
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On Saturday, Mr Blinken spoke to CBS News after meeting China’s top spokesperson, Wang Yi, at the Munich Security Conference.
During the meeting, he said “deep concerns” regarding the “possibility that China will supply lethal material help to Russia”.
“To date, Chinese firms… deliver non-lethal help to Russia for use in Ukraine. Our concern now is based on data we have that they’re considering offering lethal support,” he said.
He did not exaggerate the details the US received about China’s possible plans. When pressed on what the US thought China might offer Russia, he said it would be especially weapons and ammunition.
The US has sanctioned a Chinese firm for allegedly supplying satellite imagery of Ukraine to the mercenary Wagner Group, which provides Russia with thousands of soldiers.
