INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated Sunday that China was thinking about supplying weapons to Russia in its war against
Ukraine, warning Beijing that any supplies would trigger a serious issue
The issue that we have now is based on information we have that theyre considering offering deadly assistance, Blinken informed CBSs Face
Asked what lethal support would involve, he stated everything from ammunition to the weapons themselves
Blinken made similar comments in a series of interviews with American tv from Germany, where on Saturday he participated in the Munich
Security Conference and met with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.He told Wang then that if China provides material support to Russia or
help with systemic sanctions evasion, there will be effects, a State Department authorities stated
Strained ties Taken together, the United States comments seemed amongst the clearest caution yet that China may be poised to surpass
rhetorical, political or diplomatic support for Russia and be all set to assist equip it in its almost year-old battle versus Ukraine.They
also came at a time when already strained United States -Chinese relations have been even more tested by Washingtons shooting down of what
it said was a large Chinese spy balloon.Appearing Sunday on ABC, Blinken stressed that United States President Joe Biden had actually
warned his Chinese equivalent, Xi Jinping, as long earlier as last March against sending weapons to Russia.Since that time, China has
actually taken care not to cross that line, consisting of by holding off on selling deadly weapons systems for usage on the battleground,
according to an administration source familiar with the issue.A leading Republican senator who likewise participated in the Munich
conference, Lindsey Graham, stated it would be a major mistake for China to provide Russia with weapons.Doing so now, he stated, would be
It would resemble buying a ticket on the Titanic after you saw the film
No apology Graham, known as an educated diplomacy hawk, also said he had strong indications that the United States will soon reveal plans
to train Ukrainian fighter pilots, which would represent an additional action in the Wests gradually intensifying efforts to arm Ukraine
Graham stated he believed the United States should state Russia a state sponsor of terror for its actions in Ukraine-- which would mean
that China or any other nation providing it with arms would face sanctions.Blinkens conference with Wang -- the highest-level encounter
between the nations considering that United States jets shot down the Chinese balloon on Feb
4-- did not appear to relieve tensions
I told him rather merely that was undesirable and can never happen once again, Blinken told CBS about the balloon incident
Wang on Saturday dismissed the United States claims of high-altitude spying in uncharacteristically strong language, calling them
hysterical and unreasonable
Blinken said Sunday that his counterpart had provided him no apology
The tough-sounding exchanges came a day after United States Vice President Kamala Harris said in Munich that Russia had actually dedicated
crimes against mankind in Ukraine through extensive and systemic attacks on the nations civilian population.
