Secretary of State Antony Blinken of the United States will travel to Beijing this week, sending an intimidating message message to China to decrease its technical assistance to Russia’s military or face significant consequences.
Antony’s three-day trip starting on Wednesday follows the approval of a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine by the U.S. House and comes amidst concerns in Western capitals over increased Chinese assistance to Moscow for the production of military hardware.
“We are prepared to take action against companies that significantly undermine security in both Ukraine and Europe,” a State Department official told reporters ahead of Blinken’s trip. “We have demonstrated our willingness to do so with companies from various countries, not just China.”
There have been longstanding reports that China has been providing a variety of items, from vehicles to bullet-proof vests, to Russia for use in its battle with Ukraine. These items have dual-use technology with applications in equally civilian and military contexts.
The official stated that China’s support has allowed Moscow to largely rebuild its defense industrial base, which poses a significant threat not only on the Ukrainian battlefield but also to broader European security.
This month the United States officials have informed us that China is also delivering parts and microchips used in the making of drones, cruise missiles, and armored vehicles.
Antony Blinken’s journey will run until Friday, according to the State Department, and will include visits to both Shanghai and Beijing.
During a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Capri, Italy, late last week, the top national diplomats from Western countries issued a joint warning to Iran that it could face further permissions if found to be providing ballistic missiles and related military technology to Russia.
Following the G7 meeting, Antony Blinken emphasized that China is Russia’s primary contributor in terms of industrial support for arms. “We see China providing machine tools, semiconductors, and other dual-use items that have assisted Russia in rebuilding its defense industrial base,” Blinken said.
