The United States has no data on China’s provision of weapons to Russia
23 May, 2024 Jake Sullivan. Photo credits: White House The US does not confirm the information that China is preparing to send lethal weapons to Russia.
Jake Sullivan, United States National Security Advisor, stated this. According to him, as early as 2022, there was concern that China could provide weapons as direct lethal assistance to Russia. "We did not see this in 2022.
We didn't see it in 2023. We don't see it now. I look forward to talking to the UK to ensure that we have a common operational picture.
I want to better understand what exactly was meant in that comment," he emphasized during the briefing. Sullivan recalled US concerns about what China is doing to fuel the Russian military machine, not by providing weapons directly, but by providing resources to the Russian defense industrial base.
"This is happening. It is something that we are concerned about. We're taking steps to counter it in a coordinated way with our allies and partners, and you can expect more of that in the future," the United States National Security Advisor added.
On May 22, Grant Shapps, British Secretary of State for Defence said that London has evidence that Russia and China are cooperating on "weapons used in Ukraine." According to Western media, during the war in Ukraine, China has become Russia's main supplier of goods needed for various weapons. In the last quarter of last year, 70% of machine tools likely used in weapons production were also imported from China.
On Tuesday, May 21, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the United States will continue to work with China, including imposing sanctions, to force Beijing to stop supporting Russia's war in Ukraine.
Antony Blinken. September 2023, Ukraine. Photo from the politician's page
Commenting on the level of military cooperation between Moscow and Beijing, Blinken emphasized that no direct arms deliveries have been recorded so far, but China provides logistical and technological support to the Russian military machine.
In 2023, the invasion forces of Russia started to use the Desertcross all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) of the Chinese manufacturer on the territory of Ukraine.