The US government has warned China of growing support for Moscow.
Foreign Minister Blinken spoke of "serious problems".
Munich – The US government fears that China could significantly increase its support for Russia in the Ukraine war in the coming months.
As the US television broadcaster CNN reports, the government in Washington has observed a "worrying trend" in recent weeks.
He pointed out that Beijing could secretly provide "deadly military aid" to Moscow in the future.
The exact content of these trends is not known.
Nevertheless, a US official told the broadcaster that they were concerned enough to share the information with allies and partners at the Munich Security Conference (Siko) in recent days.
Ukraine war: Blinken warns Beijing of “consequences” if it supports Russia
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken warned publicly at Siko against an increase in Russian support from Beijing.
Blinken warned in a meeting with top Chinese diplomat and former Foreign Minister Wang Yi of "consequences" should Beijing give Russia "material support" or help circumvent Western sanctions, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said. the meeting together.
However, Blinken also made it clear that the USA “does not want a conflict” with China.
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Vladimir Putin (left) and Xi Jinping at a meeting on February 4, 2022 in Beijing
© Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik/AFP
Even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Moscow and Beijing had maintained a close diplomatic relationship and publicly professed a “friendship without borders”.
Even if the Chinese government emphasizes to the outside world that it is not involved in the Ukraine war, deliveries to Russia are said to have already taken place.
This is based on information available to the US government.
So far, however, these have probably only consisted of clothing and helmets - war equipment or ammunition has apparently not yet been delivered.
US Vice President Harris "concerns" about growing Chinese support for Moscow
It is now of the utmost importance for the US that it stays that way.
"The concern we have now based on information we have is that they are considering providing lethal support.
And we made it very clear to them that this would cause a serious problem for us and in our relationship," Blinken said at the security conference.
In her speech in Munich, Vice President Kamala Harris also warned Beijing against expanding support.
Any moves by China in this direction would "reward aggression, continue killing and further undermine a rules-based order," Harris said Saturday.
"We are concerned that Beijing has deepened its ties with Moscow since the beginning of the war."
Chinese diplomat calls for “peace plan” – von der Leyen: “So far we have seen the opposite”
At the conference, top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi emphasized the need for a peace plan between Russia and Ukraine, in which Beijing also wanted to participate.
“This war cannot rage on any longer.
We need to think about what efforts we can make to end this war," Wang said.
A Year of Ukraine War: The Origins of the Conflict with Russia
A Year of Ukraine War: The Origins of the Conflict with Russia
Despite this commitment, Western countries remain skeptical.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in an interview with CNN that she could currently see the opposite behavior with regard to Beijing.
"We saw that China and Russia signed an unlimited partnership and I think we need more evidence and more action to see that China does not support Russia," said the CDU politician.
"So far we've seen the opposite.
And therefore there is an open question on the table.”
Following the Munich Security Conference, Wang will travel to Moscow for talks.
The coming months during the war will probably show whether this will also involve further support from China.
(fd with dpa)
List of rubrics: © Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik/AFP