Russia is making progress in the war in Ukraine, and the United States wants European countries to pressure China to reduce its support for Russia. Beijing is helping Moscow achieve "the most ambitious defense expansion since the Soviet era, at a pace beyond imagination," U.S. intelligence sources said at the G7 summit in Italy
According to an April 19 report by the French news agency France-Presse, the United States reportedly urged European countries to step up pressure on China during the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers' meeting in Italy on Thursday.
The reason would be "China's help in rebuilding Russia's military industry."
Russia is making progress in the war in Ukraine, and the United States wants European countries to pressure China to reduce its support for Russia.
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Italian Foreign Minister Tajani and U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron participate in the second day of the G7 foreign ministers' meeting on April 18, local time Photo from Visual China
A U.S. diplomatic source said that U.S. Secretary of State John Blinken, who arrived in Italy on Wednesday, raised U.S. concerns during a working session devoted to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
"China is contributing to Russia's ability to wage war in a way that would threaten all of Europe." A senior U.S. official, who wished to remain anonymous, added, "They are increasing Russia's capacity to produce equipment and munitions, and one should pause for a moment and think about what that capacity will look like in the future."
The U.S. official also stressed the fact that there is a "growing awareness" of the challenges associated with this alleged Chinese support and said a warning on the issue will be reflected in Friday's final joint statement.
AFP news agency reported that Washington has repeatedly asked China not to supply weapons to Russia.
On April 12, two "senior U.S. government officials," who wished to remain anonymous, said at a closed-door press conference that U.S. intelligence has shown that Chinese companies have exported to Russia a large number of dual-use products, such as mechanical equipment, integrated circuit systems and drone parts, and that it is "very likely" that Russia will use them in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict."
They also claimed that Chinese entities were directly involved in assembling drones on Russian soil, thus claiming that China was "systematically helping Russia in its war effort."
These U.S. officials claim that China is a key factor in revitalizing Russia's defense industrial base, which has "suffered serious setbacks" since the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
China, therefore, is helping Russia achieve "the most ambitious defense expansion since the Soviet era, at a pace beyond imagination."
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