Pentagon warns Beijing about its military ties to Russia, even as Xi and Putin meet

Ely Ratner, US Defence Department’s chief for Indo-Pacific security, expresses “serious concern” in video link with Major General Li Bin of China’s Central Military Commission

Ratner also presses Li over escalating tension between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea as well as Moscow’s developing ties to North Korea.

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Ely Ratner, the US Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific security affairs, told a Chinese official on Thursday of the “serious concern” the US had about China’s increasing military coordination with Russia. Photo: Reuters

Published: 2:55am, 17 May 2024Updated: 4:26am, 17 May 2024

A top Pentagon official warned a counterpart in Beijing on Thursday about its increasing cooperation with Moscow, even as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were pledging closer economic and military ties.

The US Defence Department said that Ely Ratner, its assistant secretary for Indo-Pacific security, had expressed “serious concern” over the ties during a video link with Major General Li Bin, the director of China’s Central Military Commission office for International Military Cooperation.

Ratner also pressed Li over escalating tension between China and the Philippines near a contested South China Sea shoal as well as Moscow’s ties with North Korea.

“Ratner underscored the importance of respect for high seas freedom of navigation guaranteed under international law, and he raised concerns over dangerous PRC actions against lawfully operating Philippine vessels in the South China Sea,” the Pentagon said in a readout.

“He also discussed the relationship between Russia and [North Korea], as well as serious concern over the PRC’s support for Russia’s defence industrial base that enables Russia’s war in Ukraine.”

The Russian embassy in Beijing on Wednesday, ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day trip to the country. Photo: AFP

The last point is one that many Washington policymakers, including Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, have flagged frequently in recent weeks. The issue has become more pressing as Russia’s military advances deeper into Ukrainian territory.