China's indirect aid to Russia's arms sector raises U.S. alarm
According to information provided by the White House, China supports the Russian arms industry. However, they have not been found to directly supply weapons to Russia. Jake Sullivan, the national security advisor, has raised the United States' growing concerns about this issue.
"We have not seen any evidence that they'll provide direct military aid to Russia, but we have expressed our concerns about inputs into Russia's defense industrial base, something Secretary Antony Blinken spoke about, I think quite effectively in Europe last week," Sullivan said, responding to inquiries about Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's Tuesday visit to China.
US President Joe Biden also expressed his concerns to Chinese leader Xi Jinping about China's backing of the Russian arms industry.
China remains unmoved by sanction threats
At a summit of NATO countries' diplomatic leaders in Brussels, Secretary of State Blinken highlighted and alerted allies to China's growing support for the Russian sector, which includes exporting critical materials, components, and electronics.
The US previously cautioned Beijing against shipping weapons to Russia, threatening sanctions. But so far, these warnings have been limited to direct support with lethal armaments.
President Biden will host Japan's Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, in the next few days at the White House. This state visit will allow both leaders to review and sign numerous agreements aimed at bolstering military and industrial cooperation.
On Thursday, President Biden is scheduled to meet with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Their meeting takes place against escalating tensions between the Philippines and China, spurred by hostile maneuvers of the Chinese navy in the South China Sea. Biden, Marcos, and Kishida will also participate in a trilateral meeting, marking a historic first for such a gathering.
