Ukraine war: US warns Chinese companies of sanctions if Beijing gives lethal aid to Russia
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken said if China provides lethal aid to Russia for the conflict, it will be a serious problem for Beijing in its relationship with other countries
- Blinken, who is touring Central Asia, also announced US$25 million in new economic assistance and pledged support for the sovereignty of the ex-Soviet republics
If China provides lethal aid to Moscow for the conflict, it will be a serious problem for Beijing in its relationship with countries around the world, Blinken told reporters during a trip to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Blinken’s visit to the capitals of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan was his first to the region as the Biden administration’s top diplomat.
Leaders in the region have been emboldened to stand up to Moscow but have also been buffeted by the fallout from the war, including rising food and fuel prices, and come under suspicion as potential routes for sanctioned goods reaching Russia.
“We are watching compliance with sanctions very closely and we’re having an ongoing discussion with number of countries, including our C5 partners, on the economic spillover effects,” Blinken said at a news conference after a meeting with officials of the five Central Asian states in the Kazakh capital Astana.