Washington ‘will not hesitate’ to ‘target Chinese companies’ if Beijing supplies ‘lethal material support for Russia’s war’

The US has warned that they “will target Chinese companies and individuals” if Beijing supplies “lethal material in support for Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.”

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said in a meeting with leaders in the Kazakhstan capital Astana, that if China violates US sanctions by supplying “lethal aid” to Moscow then this will cause serious problems with their relationship.

The US top diplomat visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan telling the leaders that they have to stand up to Russia.

Blinken told leaders, “So we’ve been watching it very carefully from from day one, and the reason that I raised this not only with Wang Yi last week, but also publicly, along with other colleagues in the administration, is because of concern we have based on information that we have, that China is considering moving beyond the non-lethal support that some of its companies have been providing to actually lethal material support for Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.

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“And what I can share with you is that we did very clearly warn China about the implications and consequences of going through with providing such support.

“We will not hesitate, for example, to target Chinese companies or individuals that violate our sanctions or otherwise engage in supporting the Russian war effort.”

The US had also criticised Beijing’s talks of a peace plan as this is undermined by its “diplomatic, political, economic and rhetorical support” of Moscow and Vladimir Putin.

Ukraine has called for a ceasefire and on Monday at a news briefing Price accused China of “attempting to maintain a veneer of neutrality” but this position is untenable as Beijing are providing many different forms of Support to Moscow.

China is helping Russia by buying enormous amounts of oil which is sanctioned and thus far Beijing has refused to condemn Moscow’s illegal war in Ukraine.

At a press briefing published by the US department of state, Price said, “The PRC has told the world that, essentially, it is not taking a position, but rather it has tried to portray itself as an honest broker. In word and in deed, however, the PRC has been anything but an honest broker.

“Leaving aside the question of lethal assistance – which we don’t believe the PRC has provided yet, but we do believe it is considering – leaving that aside, the PRC has already provided important forms of assistance to Russia, including in the context of its aggression against Ukraine.

“It’s provided Russia with diplomatic support, with political support, with economic support, with rhetorical support, including by parroting Russia’s dangerous propaganda, dangerous lies, and disinformation on the world stage.”