Don't send weapons to Russia for Ukraine war, U.S. warns China

U.S. intelligence suggests China is considering providing arms and ammunition to Russia, an involvement in the Kremlin's war effort in Ukraine that would be a "serious problem," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

Blinken said the United States has long been concerned that China would provide weapons to Russia.

He pointed to Chinese leader Xi Jinping's promise to Russian President Vladimir Putin of a partnership with "no limits" when they met just weeks before Putin sent his troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Since then, ties between the two countries have only grown stronger.

"We've been watching this very, very closely. And, for the most part, China has been engaged in providing rhetorical, political, diplomatic support to Russia, but we have information that gives us concern that they are considering providing lethal support to Russia in the war against Ukraine," Blinken said in an interview that aired Sunday.

The day before, he attended a meeting at a security conference in Munich with Wang Yi, the Chinese Communist Party's most senior foreign policy official.

"It was important for me to share very clearly with Wang Yi that this would be a serious problem," Blinken said.

WATCH | U.S. warns China not to send weapons to Russia:

U.S. warns China not to aid Russia in Ukraine war

2 years ago

Duration 2:27

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China not to provide assistance to Russia to help with its war against Ukraine. 'Based on the information we have, they are considering providing lethal support and that would cause a serious problem in our relationship, Blinken said in an interview with CBS at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

'Catastrophic' for U.S.-China relations: senator

With Putin determined to show some progress on the battlefield as the war nears the one-year mark, Russian forces have been on the offensive in Eastern Ukraine.

"The Ukrainians are holding very strong, the Russians are suffering horrific losses in this effort," Blinken said. He estimated that Russia has 97 per cent of its ground troops in Ukraine.

The Russians are also eager to capture more territory before Ukraine receives the more advanced weapons recently pledged by the U.S. and its European allies.

"But what Secretary Blinken said is big news to me," said Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who representsSouth Carolina. Graham said the world should "come down hard on China" if it provides lethal weapons to Russia, and he advised Chinese leaders not to do anything rash.

Graham said it would be the "most catastrophic thing that could happen to the U.S.-China relationship.... That would change everything forever."

Tensions between Washington and Beijing have been heightened in recent weeks after the U.S. shot down what it says was a Chinese spy balloon. China insists it was used mainly for meteorological research and was blown off course.

WATCH | World leaders pledge support for Ukraine:

World leaders pledge support for Ukraine, seek diplomatic ways to end conflict

2 years ago

Duration 2:21

World leaders at the Munich Security Conference pledged to keep up the production of their military stockpile in order to support Ukraine's fight against Russia. But there haven't been any substantial pledges on Ukraine's key ask for heavier weapons like fighter jets.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, also expressed her concern about any effort by the Chinese to arm Russia, saying "that would be a red line."

Retired general Jack Keane, a former U.S. army vice-chief of staff, said he agreed with the Biden administration's decision to expose China's possible readiness to provide some lethal weapons to Russia. He said it may persuade China to hold off.

"And I think coming out and exposing and I would go further and tell them what we think they are attempting to provide China will pull back likely after that public exposure," Keane said.

Blinken and Graham were on ABC's This Week,Thomas-Greenfield appeared on CNN's State of the Unionand Keane spoke on Fox News Sunday.