U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who is on a visit to Beijing, said Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China’s support, UNN reports citing AP.
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Blinken said he has made clear to Chinese leader Xi Jinping his concerns about Beijing's supply of materials to Moscow, including machine tools and microelectronics, that President Vladimir Putin is using to bolster Russia's defense and its war with Ukraine.
Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China’s support
"Fueling Russia’s defense industrial base not only threatens Ukrainian security, it threatens European security," he added. "As we’ve told China for some time, ensuring transatlantic security is a core U.S. interest. In our discussions today. I made clear that China does not address this problem."
At the same time, Blinken praised the recent progress made in bilateral cooperation, including in military communications, the fight against drugs, and artificial intelligence.
"We are committed to maintaining and strengthening the channels of communication to advance this agenda and to once again be responsible about our differences to avoid any misunderstandings, any misperceptions, any miscalculations," he said.
Blinken also said he called on China to use its influence "to dissuade Iran and its proxies from expanding the conflict in the Middle East" and to persuade North Korea "to stop its dangerous behavior and engage in dialogue.
Blinken also discussed with Xi Jinping China's naval maneuvers in the disputed South China Sea and reaffirmed America's "ironclad" support for the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia.
Xi Jinping emphasized that China and the United States should seek common ground, "not engage in fierce competition.
"China is happy to see a confident, open, prosperous United States," the Chinese leader said. - We hope that the United States can also look at China's development in a positive light. This is a fundamental issue that needs to be resolved.
Earlier, Blinken held lengthy talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong.