US warns of Chinese arms delivery to Russia – Beijing’s role in war

analysis

The anniversary of Russia’s illegal war of aggression against the Ukraine is imminent. The Ukrainians have been defending themselves against the aggressor for almost twelve months now. They receive support from the NATO countries and the USA, for example in the form of arms deliveries. Russia on the other hand, has been largely isolated internationally since the invasion of Ukraine.

The list of Russia’s allies has evidently shrunk in recent months. The eye of the world public was particularly on one actor: China.

The world power is likely to be Russia’s most important remaining partner. But so far the country has stayed in the background. However, China is now announcing a peace initiative for the war in Ukraine to want to launch – without giving details.

Can Russian President Vladimir Putin hope for support from Chinese President Xi Jinping?Image: Pool Sputnik Government / Alexei Druzhinin

China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping is trying to “get it both ways,” says US Secretary of State Antony Blinken interview with the US television network “NBC News“. But he warns of possible “deadly support” from China.

US government concerned: China could supply weapons to Russia

“The concern we have now based on the information we have is that they are considering providing lethal support,” Blinken told US TV, referring to China.CBS“.

When asked what “deadly support” entailed, the foreign minister clarified: “everything from ammunition to the weapons self”. Any arms delivery to Moscow would cause “serious problems,” Blinken says.

So far, China has positioned itself as an actor striving for peace. However, in the background they are already providing support in favor of Russia. For example, they provide commercially manufactured drones that can also be used in war, reports the US daily “The Wall Street Journal“.

Concerns are growing that these supports could become even more “deadly”. Then: Chinese arms sales to Russia would add a new dimension to the war in Ukraine – and the US government is well aware of this.

Chinese arms deliveries to Russia would have dramatic repercussions for Ukraine. Image: AP / Libkos

Chinese arms deliveries would have serious repercussions

According to Eduard Wong, analyst at the US daily “New York Times“Blinken’s public statement shows a certain desperation on the part of the USA. According to him, the Biden government is trying to dissuade Xi Jinping from delivering arms at any price. However, with little success. The United States has few cards against China to actually influence Chinese government decisions, Wong said.

Especially because of the balloon affair Relationship between the two countries has hit rock bottom.

Balloon affair creates tension between the US and China

After the launch of a suspected Chinese spy balloon over the United States, diplomatic relations are not looking good. China’s foreign policy chief Wang Yi called on the US to “change course, acknowledge and repair the damage that its excessive use of force has caused to US-Chinese relations.” This is reported by the Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

The mood is shattered: China’s foreign politician Wang Yi and his counterpart Antony Blinken. Image: ap / Stefani Reynolds

The day-long flight of the balloon over several US nuclear weapons bases had led to a scandal between Washington and Beijing. Blinken then canceled a planned trip to China. It should have been the first visit to China by a US Secretary of State in more than four years.

Tensions between China and the United States have increased significantly in recent years. Among other things, it deals with the conflict over Taiwan, the situation in Hong Kong, human rights and trade issues. In the past few months, however, there had also been signs of relaxation. Biden and Xi met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Indonesia last November.

Now the war in Ukraine could put renewed pressure on already ailing relations between the United States and China. The Biden government is showing China the limits: up to here and no further.

The US and the EU are issuing clear warnings to China

At a meeting with China’s foreign politician Wang at the Munich Security Conference, Blinken warned China of the “consequences” of supporting Russia. The US will not stand idly by should China provide “material support” to Russia or help it circumvent Western sanctions.

Blinken spoke to Wang “very directly and openly,” the US State Department said. In particular, the US diplomat was “rather blunt” with regard to support for Russia. The EU is also jumping on the bandwagon and showing a clear edge.

Sweden, which holds the presidency of the EU Council of Ministers this six-month period, is also threatening China with “consequences”. Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom says in Brussels that his message to Beijing is clear: “No weapons to Russia, under any circumstances and from any country.” The EU is on the side of the USA.

The Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom also threatens China with “consequences”. Image: IMAGO/TT / Fredrik Sandberg

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn says so DeutschlandfunkChinese arms deliveries to Russia would be a “dramatic turnaround” in the almost year-long war of aggression against Ukraine. He affirmed the question of whether the EU would then impose sanctions on China. Asselborn referred to the EU sanctions that had already been imposed on the Iran for supplying combat drones to Russia. “If China were to supply weapons, something similar could very quickly follow,” emphasizes Asselborn.

With China’s arms deliveries to Russia, “a red line” would have been crossed, said EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell on the fringes of the foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels. Senior Chinese foreign policy maker Wang assured him that China had “no intention of doing this.”

China has opposed plans to sell arms to Russia

China has sharply denied allegations by the United States that Beijing may be supplying arms to Russia. Washington is spreading “misinformation,” says Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin. Beijing will not accept “any pointers from the United States to Sino-Russian relations.”

According to China’s foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, the allegations are unfounded. Image: AP / Liu Zheng

It is “the United States and not China that constantly sends weapons onto the battlefield,” says Wang. He adds:

China is trying to “promote peace and support dialogue” in the Ukraine conflict.

(With material from AFP)