US intelligence believes that Russia is asking China for military equipment and support to invade Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin is believed to have asked Chinese president Xi Jinping for both military equipment and support after its February 24 invasion.
Details on what types of weaponry were requested, and whether China has moved to supply Putin’s government have yet to emerge but the request has sparked extreme concern among western governments.
Jake Sullivan, White House national security adviser, bluntly warned China to avoid helping Russia evade punishment from global sanctions. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has put China in a delicate spot with two of its biggest trading partners: the U.S. and European Union, China needs access to those markets, yet it also has made gestures supportive of Moscow, joining with Russia in declaring a friendship with “no limits”.
Other US officials have said there were signs that Russia was running out of some kinds of weaponry as the war in Ukraine extends into its third week.
Russia, which calls its action in Ukraine a “special operation”, rather than an invasion or war, has tightened cooperation with Xi Jinping’s communist government after both nations came under strong Western pressure over human rights and a raft of other issues.
Mr. Sullivan plans in his meeting with Mr. Yang to make Washington’s concerns clear while mapping out the consequences and growing isolation China would face globally if it increases its support to Russia, one US official said, without providing details.
He told CNN on Sunday that Washington believed China was aware that Russia was planning some action in Ukraine before the invasion took place, although Beijing may not have understood the full extent of what was planned.
He added that Washington was watching closely to see to what extent Beijing provided economic or material support to Russia, and would impose consequences if that occurred.
Mr. Sullivan said: “We are communicating directly, privately to Beijing, that there will absolutely be consequences for large-scale sanctions evasion efforts or support to Russia to backfill them.”
“We will not allow that to go forward and allow there to be a lifeline to Russia from these economic sanctions from any country, anywhere in the world,” he added.
China has so far claimed neutrality over the war in Ukraine and has refused to condemn Russian leader Vladimir Putin for ordering the invasion. Beijing has not condemned Russia’s attack and does not call it an invasion, but has urged a negotiated solution.
Liu Pengyu, the Chinese embassy spokesperson in Washington said: “China is deeply concerned and grieved on the Ukraine situation”, adding that he was not aware of any suggestions that China might be willing to help Russia.
Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, labeled the targeting of the base in Yavoriv, called the International Centre for Peacekeeping and Security, a “significant” development in the war. He went on to warn Putin was “pushing the boundaries” and accused the warmongering leader of having “no moral limits”.
Meanwhile, Wang Huiyao, head of a Beijing think tank and adviser to the Chinese government, warned of “an escalatory spiral”. On Sunday, Huiyao said China was “uniquely positioned to act as a neutral mediator between a Western-supported Ukraine and Russia” to end the war.
“Unpalatable as some in the West may find the idea, it is time to offer the Russian leader an off-ramp with China’s help,” he added. China has so far insisted it aims to promote a peaceful settlement to the war.
Beijing, a key trading partner of Russia, has refused to call Russia’s actions an invasion, although China’s president Xi Jinping last week did call for “maximum restraint” in Ukraine after a virtual meeting with German chancellor Olaf Scholz and French president Emmanuel Macron.
Mr. Xi also expressed concern about the impact of sanctions on global finance, energy supplies, transportation, and supply chains, amid growing signs that western sanctions are limiting China’s ability to buy Russian oil.
However, Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of the state-backed Chinese Global Times newspaper, said on Twitter: “If Sullivan thinks he can persuade China to participate in sanctions against Russia, he will be disappointed.”
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