The US warns that China is considering supplying weapons to Russia

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19 Feb. () –

The North American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has warned this Sunday that China is studying the possibility of supplying arms and ammunition to Russia.

Blinken explained in an interview with CBS that China already provides “non-lethal support” to Russia, but the latest information from Washington suggests that it could provide “lethal support”, which could have “serious consequences”. has warned.

“To date we have seen Chinese companies (…) provide non-lethal support to Russia for use in Ukraine. We are now concerned that the information we have is that they are considering providing lethal support,” he said.

Blinken explained that he met on Saturday in Munich with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, to whom he transferred the “deep concern” of the United States about “the possibility of China providing lethal weapons to Russia.”

Beijing has even denied that Moscow has requested the supply of Chinese military material and has reiterated its position of neutrality with respect to the armed conflict in Ukraine with recurring calls for peace.

However, Washington has already sanctioned a Chinese company for supplying satellite images of Ukraine to the Russian mercenary group Wagner, which is contributing thousands of fighters to the offensive. In fact, Blinken has stressed that “obviously in China there is no distinction between private companies and the State.”

If that arms handover finally occurs, it would cause “a serious problem for us and for our relationship” with China, a link already strained by the recent downing of a Chinese spy balloon that Beijing says accidentally drifted across US territory from west to west. this.

Blinken has also expressed fear that China will help Russia evade Western economic sanctions. Bilateral trade between Russia and China continues to increase and Beijing continues to buy Russia’s oil, gas and coal.