US official: China Willing To Supply Arms To Russia

WASHINGTON: Top U.S. and Chinese officials met Monday in Rome. A U.S. official reported that China had indicated that it would send military and economic help to Russia, at Moscow’s request, to back Russia’s conflict in Ukraine.

China is anticipated to deny the plans, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity. He reported that a message was transmitted in a diplomatic cable and delivered by intelligence officers.

Meeting with China’s senior diplomat Yang Jiechi in Rome, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned China it will be held responsible for helping Russia avoid Western sanctions and amid rumours that Russia had requested military supplies from China.

There is no truth to the claims, Russia said, claiming that it has enough military resources to accomplish its goals in Ukraine. “Disinformation” was the word used by China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman in response to the claims.

A “special operation” to demilitarise and “denazify” Ukraine was launched by Russia on February 24. In the eyes of Ukraine and its Western backers, this is nothing more than a pretext for war.

It is part of a planned attempt by US officials to refute misinformation by disclosing both Russia’s request and China’s answer, a US official said.

In the demarche, China’s readiness to deliver armaments to Russia was left relatively ambiguous, but the source anticipated intelligence personnel to offer additional specifics during in-person briefings.

On Sunday, Sullivan said that the United States was keeping a careful eye on China’s economic and material support to Russia.

According to Secretary of State John Kerry, the United States is explicitly informing Beijing that sanctions evasion or Russian backing for sanctions will result in “consequences.” A lifeline to Russia from economic sanctions imposed by any government, anywhere in the globe, is “not something we’ll let go forward.”