Australia and Britain call on China to cease aid to Russia
Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin (Photo: Getty Images)
Australia and the United Kingdom have criticized China for its actions in Hong Kong, the South China Sea, and its support for Russia, according to Reuters.
Both countries have called the behavior of Chinese vessels towards Filipino ships and crews near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea dangerous and destabilizing.
UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, along with their Australian counterparts Penny Wong and Richard Marles, also said they were concerned about Hong Kong's new security law.
"The ministers also said they were concerned about Hong Kong's new security law and the erosion of freedom and rights in the territory, a former colony of Britain, as well as human rights abuses in China.," the statement said.
Australia and the UK also sharply criticized Russia's invasion of Ukraine and said that China should play its role in ending the war.
China-Russia relations
China began to strengthen ties with Russia following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Specifically, Beijing refused to join sanctions imposed by the US against the Kremlin. China and Russia share a mutual interest in challenging US dominance in the global order, as their relations with democratic countries become increasingly tense.
Last October, the US Department of Defense stated that China, despite its denials, is supplying arms to Russia. This includes drones, small arms, and equipment.
Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi assured his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba that Beijing is not supplying lethal weapons to Russia.
US intelligence recently stated that China has been providing economic support and security assistance to Russia.
