US sought China’s help to avoid Ukraine invasion, but Beijing passed information to Russia, insider says
- In December, US officials shared intelligence with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Ambassador Qin Gang, who discounted the idea of an invasion, a source says
- ‘Our information indicates that China then relayed that information to Russia, noting that the US was attempting to sow division,’ the source adds
US officials alerted China late last year of Russia’s impending plan to invade Ukraine, but Beijing passed Washington’s information along to Moscow with assurances that it would not try to stop any action, a person familiar with the matter said.
“Our information indicates that China then relayed that information to Russia, noting that the US was attempting to sow division between China and Russia and that China would not try to dissuade Russia from invading.”
The warnings, first reported on Friday by The New York Times, shed new light on the extent of Beijing’s growing partnership with Moscow two days into Russia’s rapid and deadly invasion of Ukraine.
According to The Times, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and Chinese ambassador to the US Qin Gang were among the officials who brushed off US efforts to warn them of the coming assault on Ukraine, insisting that Russia would not invade.