China has renewed its commitment not to supply Russia with weapons for use in the war against Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Beijing on Monday.
“We and other countries have received assurances from China that it will not and will not provide lethal assistance to Russia for use in Ukraine,” Blinken told reporters at the end of two days of talks in the Chinese capital.
Blinken said the United States does not have any evidence that contradicts China’s commitment not to supply Russia with weapons.
“However, what continues to worry us is the possibility that Chinese companies are supplying Russia with technology, which it could use to carry out its aggression in Ukraine,” he said.
“We ask the Chinese government to be very attentive to this issue,” said the head of US diplomacy.
Blinken also said Beijing’s promises had been fulfilled “in recent weeks” and not just during his visit.
In recent months, Washington has publicly expressed concern about the possibility of China supplying Russia with weapons to help it in the war in Ukraine.
Claiming to be neutral in the conflict, China has advocated respecting the sovereignty of states, including Ukraine, but has never publicly condemned the invasion ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022.
Blinken’s visit to China was the first by a US secretary of state since Mike Pompeo’s visit in October 2018.
Blinken also became the highest-ranking US official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office in 2021.
Source: TSF
