U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized the Chinese communist regime’s support for Russia’s defense industry on April 19, saying Beijing is the primary contributor to Moscow’s war on Ukraine, providing Russia with critical materials and components for weaponry.
“When it comes to Russia’s defense, the primary contributor at this moment to that is China,” he said at a press conference following a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Capri, Italy. “We see China sharing machine tools, semi-conductors, other dual-use items that have helped Russia rebuild its defense industrial base that sanctions and export controls had done so much to degrade.”
Mr. Blinken warned that Beijing’s actions are fueling “the biggest threat to European security since the end of the Cold War.”
He said the Chinese regime cannot have it both ways—helping Russia and keeping good relations with Europe. He urged European leaders to increase pressure on the communist leadership.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock shared the same concern with Mr. Blinken. She said in Capri after the G7 meeting, “If China openly pursues an ever closer partnership with Russia, which is waging an illegal war against Ukraine, ... we cannot accept this.”
Mr. Blinken also noted that Washington had made it very clear to Beijing and others that they should not be aiding Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
U.S. officials briefed reporters earlier this month on military supplies that China was providing to Russia, saying that it still falls short of providing lethal aid but is helping Russia build up its military to sustain its war on Ukraine since 2022.
‘Significant Consequences’
Mr. Blinken’s latest remarks followed U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s warning during her visit to China earlier this month.Ms. Yellen said during a meeting in Beijing with Vice Premier He Lifeng that Chinese companies could face “significant consequences” if they provide material support for Russia’s defense industry.
“Between Chinese military equipment imports and money earned on Chinese trade and investment, the Russian military machine is now back to pre-war levels,” he wrote. “The United States and its allies have been supporting Ukraine to hold out as long as it can to wear the Russians down.
“However, CCP support has proved a lifeline for Moscow. The support of Russia’s economy and military manufacturing efforts by the CCP has spurred an unconventional arms race, positioning the United States and its allies in a spending showdown against Beijing.”
China affairs observer and Epoch Times columnist Zhou Xiaohui said he believes the United States has enough evidence of CCP’s lethal aid to Russia to take further action.
“Judging from the latest remarks of Blinken and Yellen, the U.S. government has already collected comprehensive evidence that the CCP is assisting Russia, and the CCP’s lethal aid to Russia has been confirmed,” he wrote. “The next step is to let CCP bear ‘significant consequences.’”
Mr. Zhou said he believes that the “significant consequences” could include sanctioning more Chinese companies and blocking the CCP’s access to high technology, freezing the CCP’s overseas assets and those of the CCP’s powerful families, and sanctioning members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CCP.
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines has been working with Mr. Blinken since the end of 2023 to complete and publish a report, which is required under the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act, on the extensive corruption and hidden wealth of top CCP officials in the United States, including CCP leader Xi Jinping. It’s been revealed by U.S. media outlets in recent days that the report will be made public soon.
