U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that China's assistance to Russia's military-industrial complex is "of a worrisome scale." In her turn, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that companies that help Russia will face serious consequences, UNN reports with reference to Financial Times.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Yellen emphasized that Chinese companies will support Moscow in the war in Ukraine. Yellen said that companies, in particular from China, should not provide material support to Russia's war against Ukraine... and that if they do, they will face serious consequences.
The warning comes after Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told EU and NATO foreign ministers that Beijing is assisting Moscow "on a significant scale" and providing "tools, materials and technical expertise."
According to Blinken, the assistance was particularly focused on the Russian production of optical equipment and rocket fuel, as well as the space sector, which, he said, "not only contributes to Russia's aggression in Ukraine, but also threatens other countries.
According to one of the interlocutors, Blinken expressed concerns about China at every meeting of NATO foreign ministers on Wednesday and Thursday.
U.S. President Joe Biden raised the issue directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a phone call on Tuesday. The White House reported that Biden expressed concern about "China's support for Russia's defense industrial base and its impact on European and transatlantic security.