Blinken criticizes China for its position in support of Russian defense industry

Blinken, at the World Economic Forum in Saudi Arabia, emphasized that the Chinese cannot "have it both ways," seeking to end the conflict and improve relations with Europe while simultaneously supplying goods to Russia that pose "the greatest challenge to European security since the end of the cold war."

"We have engaged with China from the start of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and urged them not to provide Russia with arms, with weapons that would fuel the aggression," noted the US Secretary of State.

He pointed out that while China does not directly supply Russia with weapons, missiles, and ammunition as Iran and North Korea do, China provides invaluable support to Russia's defense industry, helping Moscow withstand immense pressure from sanctions, export controls, and other measures.

Dual-use goods

Blinken emphasized that over the past year, Russia has been able to produce military equipment and ammunition faster than ever in its modern history.

"How has it been able to do that? Because it is getting massive inputs of machine tools, micro electronics, optics, mostly coming from China. Now these are dual-use items, but we know very clearly where so many of them are going. And this poses two problems," explained the US Secretary of State.

He stressed that this enables Russia to continue its aggression against Ukraine and allows the aggressor country to rebuild its defense industrial base, which is likely to be turned against European countries once our country ends its war.

"And so at the very time that China is seeking better relations with countries in Europe, it is also fueling the greatest challenge to European security since the end of the cold war," said Blinken.

China Assisting Russia China, from the first days of the war in Ukraine, did not directly condemn Russia and refrained from imposing sanctions against the aggressor country. Instead, Beijing increased its cooperation with Russia and took advantage of the situation when Western markets for goods were closed to Moscow. However, China does not engage in direct arms shipments.

Blinken has repeatedly expressed concern about China's dual-use goods supplied to Russia's defense industry.

The EU shares this view. European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis stated that China supplies Russia with dual-use goods for weapons production, and such deliveries could increase.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to China on Tuesday, April 23, particularly on this issue.