United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken will reportedly warn China about its backing for Russia's military when he visits the country this week, according to a top source at the State Department.
Blinken will be meeting with high-ranking Chinese officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on his visits to Shanghai and Beijing, as reported by CNBC. No meeting between Blinken and President Xi Jinping of China has been announced as of yet.
This will be Blinken's second visit to China after last June's diplomatic mission to alleviate tensions between the US and China.
Blinken's Visit Expected to Highlight Washington's Worries About China's Aid to Russia
A three-day visit by Blinken, which begins on Wednesday, April 24, is anticipated to convey Washington's deep concerns about China's support to Russia's defense industrial base.
The official told the reporters that they are prepared to act against companies that threaten Ukraine and Europe's security. "And I think we've demonstrated our willingness to do so regarding firms from a number of countries, not just China. At any rate, again, I think this will be a key issue of discussion while we're in Beijing," he added.
The source highlighted that US allies in Europe are worried about the consequences for security due to Beijing's backing of Russia amid the conflict in Ukraine. "Of course, it will be up to China to determine its next steps," the official said.
Last week, at the G7 foreign ministers conference in Italy, Blinken said that China is the primary contributor to Russia's military industrial base.
He said that Russia's military industrial base had been severely damaged by sanctions and export limits. However, the country was able to recover through China's sharing of machine tools, semiconductors, and other dual-use equipment.
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