The United States and Europe fear Beijing is mulling sending military support to Russia, a sharp contrast with Chinese President Xi Jinping‘s reassurances to President Joe Biden in a call on Friday that China is committed to diplomacy.
European leaders possess “very reliable evidence” China is contemplating providing military assistance to Russia, intelligence that appears to be in direct conflict with Xi’s Friday morning message that war in Ukraine “is not something China wants to see.”
“EU leaders have very reliable evidence that China is considering providing military aid to Russia. All the leaders are very aware of what’s going on,” an anonymous senior EU official told Politico. “We are concerned about the fact that China is flirting with the Russians.”
RUSSIA SEEKS OUT MILITARY SUPPORT FROM CHINA IN UKRAINE CRISIS
On Friday morning, Xi urged Biden to join China in ”shoulder[ing] our share of international responsibilities and work for world peace and tranquility.”
”The events again show that countries should not come to the point of meeting on the battlefield. Conflict and confrontation are not in anyone’s interest, and peace and security are what the international community should treasure the most,” he said, according to a Chinese readout released after the meeting.
Last week, U.S. officials alleged that Russia asked China for military aid in Ukraine, a charge both Russian and Chinese officials have denied, with the Chinese Embassy issuing a statement on Tuesday dismissing the allegations as “malicious disinformation.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken also vowed to retaliate against China if it sends lethal aid to Russia.
“We’re concerned that they are considering directly assisting Russia with military equipment to use in Ukraine,” he said during a press conference Thursday. “President Biden will be speaking to President Xi tomorrow and will make clear that China will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russia’s aggression, and we will not hesitate to impose costs.”
U.S. officials believe the Kremlin asked Beijing for five types of weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, intelligence-related equipment, armored vehicles, drones, and vehicles used for logistics and support, according to the Financial Times. China is believed to have signaled openness to Moscow’s request.
EU and U.S. officials have vowed to retaliate against China if it provides weapons to Russia.
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The fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine has taken a massive toll on its economy and has consumed significant military resources. The Kremlin has lost 1,435 armored vehicles, 86 warplanes, and 201 artillery pieces during the course of the war, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed. Warring nations have an incentive to exaggerate the figures.
The Washington Examiner reached out to representatives for the European Union but did not receive a response.
