Ankara, 20 Feb. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China on Monday that if it handed over weapons to Russia, it would have “a real problem in its relations with many other countries, not just 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 outline what the consequences would be,” added Blinken, who said he transferred the content on Saturday in Munich, on the sidelines of a security conference, to the director of the office of the Communist Party’s Foreign Affairs Committee. Chinese (CCP), Wang Yi.
“I think China understands the risk it would be taking if it provided this kind of material support to Russia,” the secretary of state added.
Blinken said that because of the contacts it has had in this regard with many capitals, China will see its relations with many countries deteriorate, not only with the United States.
“This would pose a real problem for China in its relations with many other countries, not just the United States. So we hope and wish that they refrain from going down this path,” the chief concluded. of American diplomacy.
Blinken also recalled that US President Joe Biden had already informed his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, of the consequences for Beijing if he handed over arms to Russia or helped it circumvent international sanctions at the start of the war.
Russia acquired military drones from Iran and also considered buying other weapons a year after its invasion of Ukraine, where it lost hundreds of armored vehicles and consumed a huge amount of ammunition. artillery.EFE
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