BEIJING. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confronted China over its purported assistance to Russia’s military efforts, adding complexity to the fragile détente between the two global powers.
During extensive discussions lasting over five hours with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi in Beijing, Blinken underscored Washington’s apprehensions about China’s alleged provision of critical components to fuel Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. At the culmination of his visit, Blinken expressed his concerns during a press briefing, stating, “I reiterated our serious concern about the PRC providing components that are powering Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine.”
Blinken pointed out China’s pivotal role as a major supplier of various dual-use items, including machine tools and microelectronics, which are instrumental in bolstering Moscow’s defense capabilities. Despite China’s refrain from directly supplying arms to Russia’s Ukrainian campaign, Blinken warned that its provision of dual-use goods could significantly escalate the conflict’s intensity and pose a broader threat to European stability.
However, Blinken refrained from explicitly mentioning potential sanctions against China for its alleged support to Russia, although U.S. officials have previously indicated such actions could strain bilateral relations.
China, on its part, rebuffed accusations of providing military aid, emphasizing its stance on maintaining normal trade relations with Russia amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
Amidst the diplomatic jousting, Blinken’s discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping echoed mutual concerns about economic suppression and containment efforts, with Xi emphasizing the need for addressing fundamental issues to foster genuine stability and progress in bilateral relations.
Nevertheless, underlying tensions persisted, with Wang Yi characterizing the relationship as a “giant ship” that had stabilized but continued to face mounting challenges. He accused the U.S. of employing various measures to stifle China’s economic growth and technological advancement, urging the U.S. to respect China’s sovereignty and development interests, particularly regarding Taiwan and the South China Sea.
The agenda for the talks, stemming from previous engagements between President Biden and Xi, encompassed a broad spectrum of issues including artificial intelligence and narcotics control. Despite disagreements, both nations pledged to engage in dialogue on contentious topics and pursue collaborative efforts on shared concerns, such as combating the opioid crisis.
As Blinken concluded his visit, the specter of escalating tensions lingered, with the recent passage of a bill by President Biden allocating significant funds to counter China’s military expansion, reinforce Taiwan’s defense, and provide aid to Ukraine. The coming weeks will witness further discussions between the two nations, including the first-ever talks on artificial intelligence, amidst the backdrop of evolving geopolitical dynamics and mutual apprehensions.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
