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US To ‘Take Further Steps’ As It Warns China Against Helping Russia

US To 'Take Further Steps' As It Warns China Against Helping Russia

US to take further steps as it warns China against supporting Russia in the conflict involving Ukraine.

On Wednesday, the United States warned China against assisting Russia in its conflict against Ukraine, saying it is “prepared to take further steps as necessary.” Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven major industrialized nations met in Italy to reiterate their support for Ukraine’s defense.

“We believe that the PRC is supporting Russia’s war effort and is doing so by helping ramp up its defense production,” State Department chief deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters at a briefing in Washington.

“Specifically,” he added, “the PRC is providing Russia with significant quantities of machine tools, microelectronics, optics, UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones] and cruise missile technology, and nitrocellulose, which Russia uses to make propellants for weapons.”

The United States, according to Patel, believes that these materials “are filling critical gaps in Russia’s defense production cycle” and are contributing to the revival of Russia’s defense industry.

“China’s support is actively enabling Russia’s war in Ukraine, and it poses a significant threat to European security,” he said. “We’ve sanctioned relevant firms in the PRC and are prepared to take further steps as necessary.”

The Talk During The G7 Meeting

This week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Capri, Italy, meeting with foreign ministers from the other G7 countries — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom — as well as EU representatives. Topics covered include Ukraine assistance, the Middle East crisis, Haitian instability, and global collaboration.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Wednesday that the G7 ministers would discuss how to provide more air defense to Ukraine as it faces increased pressure from Russia.

“We and our partners around the world must now be just as resolute in our defense against Russian terror from the air,” Baerbock said in a written statement.

Blinken will later visit China, where he is expected to express Washington’s concern about China’s support for Russia’s defense industrial base.

Blinken will target China’s support for Russia during the G7, China visit. On the sidelines of the G7 meeting on Wednesday, Blinken and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani signed a memorandum of understanding to combat information manipulation by other countries.

Blinken stated that the two countries are working together on “all the most critical issues,” such as assisting Ukraine in defending itself against Russian aggression, addressing Middle Eastern challenges, and sharing approaches to China’s challenges.

Beijing rejected what Chinese officials called Washington’s “smear.”

“China controls the export of dual-use articles in accordance with laws and regulations. During a briefing, Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that relevant countries should not smear or attack normal relations between China and Russia, nor should they harm China’s legitimate rights and interests, or Chinese companies.

Following Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Beijing last week, Chinese officials stated that they would “continue to support Russia in pursuing development and revitalization under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin.”

They stated that the two countries “have committed themselves to lasting friendship” and a stronger comprehensive strategic partnership.