World ‘watching closely’ whether China helps Russia, White House says

The White House said countries around the world are eyeing China’s response to a request by Russia for assistance in its war against Ukraine but won’t elaborate on warnings to Beijing.

Officials have sought to short-circuit any attempt by Beijing to aid Moscow with a lifeline amid the invasion, fearing that it could hamper U.S. efforts to isolate and punish Russia and extend the conflict. But Washington has declined to telegraph publicly the penalties Beijing could face for cooperating with Russian President Vladimir Putin.