“We are convinced that the Chinese leadership is considering supplying lethal material” to Russia, William Burns said in an interview with CBS. But, he added, “we have not seen that a final decision has been made” and “we have not seen evidence that they have delivered” weapons to Russia.
The United States has for a week accused China of considering supplying weapons to Russia to support its offensive in Ukraine, which Beijing denies. According to press information, including that of the “Wall Street Journal”, it would be drones and ammunition in particular. The head of the American diplomacy Antony Blinken expressed it directly to the most senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi during a tense meeting last Saturday in Munich on the sidelines of a conference on security.
The “vigilant” United States
Washington believes that China is already supplying non-lethal material to Russia via Chinese companies. For his part, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan assured CNN on Sunday that the United States remained “vigilant” in this regard and reaffirmed Washington’s warning to Beijing against the “consequences” of such a supply of weapons.
“We will continue to send a firm message that military aid should be sent to Russia at this time. […] would be a big mistake and China should not take part,” he said.
