The European Union has warned China that supplying arms to Russia will cross a ‘red line’

There European Union (EU) warned on Monday China that the possible supply of arms to Russia for use in Ukraine it would be a “red line” for relations between the bloc and the Asian giant.

The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said that had a conversation with a senior Chinese official and explained that this step “would be a red line in our relations”. According to Borrell, the manager replied that “they had no intention of doing so, but we remain vigilant”.

The Chinese government denied on Monday that it was considering sending weapons to Russia.

Borrell made the remarks while reaching a meeting of EU foreign ministers, a meeting whose agenda is dominated by the situation in Ukraine. The head of Ukrainian diplomacy, Dmytro Kuleba, had planned to take part in this meeting in person, although his visit was canceled at the last minute.

This week will mark a year of Russia’s offensive against Ukraine, and EU ministers are discussing the details of their tenth sanctions package against Russian officials, companies and institutions.

EU countries are also feverishly discussing the means to increase its production of ammunition and shells to enable Ukraine to maintain its resistance to the Russian offensive.

US Secretary of State, Anthony Blink, had mentioned in an interview on Sunday that China was considering providing Russia with “lethal support” for use in Ukraine. On Monday, he reiterated his warnings, noting that if Beijing sends weapons, it will have “a real problem in its relations with many other countries, not only with the United States”.

“We are concerned that China is planning to support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine with lethal aid, something we are watching very, very closely,” the US foreign minister said during a briefing. a press conference in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu.

“I’m not going to lay out what the consequences would be,” Blinken added. “I think China understands the risk it would be taking if it provided this kind of material support to Russia,” he said.

That same Monday, the spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs called Blinken’s statements “false”, adding that “it is the United States and not China that constantly sends weapons to the battlefield”.

The EU and China discussed for years a deal on reciprocal investment protection, which was announced in late 2020, but strained relations have meant talks have remained virtually stalled since then.

Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, China has maintained an ambiguous stance in which it has called for respect for “territorial integrity of all countries”, including Ukraine, and attention to “legitimate concerns of all countries”, in reference to Russia.

“China’s position on the crisis in Ukraine can be summed up in one sentence, and that is to promote peace and dialogue. This is what the international community demands,” Wang added.

(With information from AFP and EFE)

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