The US has warned China against assisting Russia in Ukraine, warning that Beijing would have "consequences" if supporting Moscow's military effort.
On Monday, Biden administration spokesman Ned Price told reporters that the Biden administration would not "stand by" and allow countries to assist Russia in subverting the western-led global isolation campaign, which includes crippling economic sanctions, launched in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
US Warns China on Support for Russia in Ukraine War
His comments came as national security advisor Jake Sullivan met with top Chinese officials in Rome to discuss the issue, and news reports indicated that the Biden administration had informed other nations that China was poised to support Russia militarily and economically. The story was refuted by Russia's foreign ministry.
Ned Price refused to comment on the state of Mr. Sullivan's meeting, which he said was still going on when he entered the briefing. During her news briefing Monday afternoon, White House press secretary Jen Psaki described the meeting as an "intense seven-hour session" that "reflected the gravity of the moment" and claimed the US had spelled out its stance.
Psaki also spoke about China's capacity to assist Russia, implying that it would be useless in the face of a coordinated reaction from Nato-aligned states, according to Independent.
Sullivan spoke with Yang Jiechi, China's top foreign policy advisor, in Rome as allegations surfaced that Moscow has sought out to China for military supplies as its invasion of Ukraine enters its third week, despite heavy resistance from Ukrainian forces.
Russia Accuses US of Helping Ukraine in Running Chemical Weapons Labs
By two administration officials, China has indicated to Russia that it is willing to provide both military and financial assistance to help Russia avoid the effect of punishing Western sanctions. The assessment had been transmitted to Western and Asian friends and partners early Monday, according to authorities.
China is also being accused by the Biden administration of propagating Russian misinformation, which might be used as a pretext by Putin's forces to strike Ukraine with chemical or biological weapons. Officials from the Biden administration believe that Beijing is disseminating bogus Russian assertions that Ukraine was conducting chemical and biological weapons laboratories with US assistance. They argue that if Russia goes ahead with a biological and chemical attack against Ukrainians, China will effectively cover them.
"It's a good tell that they may be on the cusp of doing it themselves," Sullivan said Sunday when Russia began accusing other countries of preparing biological or chemical attacks. Price urged China to join the international community in pressuring Russia to agree to a cease-fire and end its attack on neighboring Ukraine, New York Post reported.
President Biden is concerned about the possibility of China providing financial assistance to Russia. According to a US source, Russia has recently requested assistance from China, including military supplies, to continue its fight with Ukraine. The official did not elaborate on the nature of the request, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive subjects.
Since the battle began more than two weeks ago, the Russians have suffered considerable losses in tanks, helicopters, and other equipment. Ukraine is well-equipped with anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons, despite being outmanned by Russian forces. The military systems of Russia and China have limited interoperability, and it's unclear what weaponry China has that Russia lacks.
The unexpected US accusations of Russian deception and Chinese complicity came after Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that the US was sponsoring Ukrainian chemical and biological weapons facilities based on no evidence.
Zhao, a spokeswoman for China's foreign ministry, reiterated the Russian assertion, claiming that the US had 26 bio-labs and similar facilities in China. The Department of Defense has complete authority." The United Nations has stated that it has received no evidence to support such claims.
According to a person familiar with the administration's view who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the official wasn't authorized to comment publicly, there is growing concern inside the White House that China is aligning itself with Russia on the Ukraine war in the hopes of advancing Beijing's "vision of the world order" in the long run.
Just three weeks before Russia invaded on February 24, China's leader Xi Jinping received Putin for the opening of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. During Putin's visit, the two presidents issued a 5,000-word statement reaffirming their "unending friendship." China is just one of those countries that has remained silent on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as per AP News.
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