Blinken: "China Considering Lethal Weapon Support to Russia... Has Not Crossed the Line Yet"

China's Wang Yi Warns of "Serious Problems in US-China Relations"

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken claimed on the 18th (local time) that China is considering providing lethal weapons to Russia, which is invading Ukraine.

After meeting Wang Yi, member of the Central Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party, in Munich, Germany, Secretary Blinken appeared on the U.S. CBS program Face the Nation on the same day and conveyed this situation.

When asked what items the support would include, Secretary Blinken replied, "Mainly weapons," and explained, "Everything from ammunition to weapons can be classified as such."

Secretary Blinken said, "We have been concerned about such (China's military support) possibilities from day one (February 24 last year, when Russia invaded Ukraine)," mentioning that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin promised "unlimited cooperation" at a summit before the outbreak of the Ukraine war.

He added, "Our concerns (about military support) are based on our intelligence," and said, "Chinese companies have supported Russia in a non-military (non-lethal) way. Of course, in China, there is little distinction between private companies and the government."

Secretary of State Tony Blinken. [Photo by Reuters]

However, Secretary Blinken reported that China has not yet provided military supplies to Russia.

Regarding his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that day, Secretary Blinken emphasized, "We clearly conveyed to China that (China's military support to Russia) could cause serious problems for the U.S. and U.S.-China relations."

In an interview with U.S. NBC on the same day, he stressed, "We understand that China is considering (military support), but we have not yet seen them cross the line."

When asked by a CBS host whether China apologized for the recent Chinese reconnaissance balloon incident that triggered sharp tensions between the two countries, Secretary Blinken replied, "I won't characterize how China spoke, but it would be fair to say there was no apology."

He said, "We are clearly competing, but we must make sure this competition does not escalate into conflict," emphasizing the importance of diplomatic dialogue while also stating, "At the same time, we will firmly assert our interests."

On the same day, Vice President Kamala Harris also raised a warning voice by mentioning the possibility of China providing lethal weapons to Russia.

At the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Vice President Harris emphasized, "If China provides any form of lethal weapons to Russia, it will be a compensation for acts of aggression and will enable the continuation of killings. Furthermore, it will undermine the rules-based order."