China’s Foreign Ministry responded on Monday to accusations made by US officials that Beijing is considering providing “lethal support” to Russia in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The ministry accused the US of “shoving responsibility, shifting blame and spreading false information” and argued that the US, not China, is the one supplying weapons to the battlefield. The ministry spokesperson stated that the US is “not qualified to lecture China” and warned against any attempts to dictate or coerce pressure on Sino-Russian relations. The accusations, if true, would mark a significant escalation in China’s support for Russia and could lead to a dangerous and unpredictable new phase in the war. While China has claimed impartiality in the conflict and denied advance knowledge of Russia’s intentions, it has also refused to condemn Moscow and has repeated Kremlin lines blaming NATO for provoking the conflict. China’s annual trade, diplomatic engagements and joint military exercises with Russia have increased in the past year, despite a recent softening of its pro-Russian rhetoric. CNN reported that US officials have shared the intelligence on China’s potential support for Russia with allies and partners at the Munich Security Conference. During a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the conference, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also raised the issue and warned Wang about its “implications and consequences”. The international community is closely watching for any support China lends to Russia, particularly assistance that could help Russia on the battlefield. The concern is that China’s partnership with Moscow could deepen, exacerbating the geopolitical fault lines between the US and China.
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