China denies US claim about arming Russia, slams Washington’s meddlesome remarks

Beijing has dismissed claims by the United States that China is considering arming Russia in its war with Ukraine, urging Washington to reflect on its own actions rather than making meddlesome comments.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday claimed that Beijing was now "considering providing lethal support" to Moscow ranging "from ammunition to the weapons themselves," almost a year after Moscow waged a war on the ex-Soviet republic.

China on Monday responded firmly to comments by the top US diplomat, stressing that Washington is in no position to make demands, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin saying that "It is the United States and not China that is endlessly shipping weapons to the battlefield."

Speaking at a regular press conference, the Chinese official added that "We urge the United States to earnestly reflect on its own actions, and do more to alleviate the situation, promote peace and dialogue, and stop shifting blame and spreading false information."

"China's comprehensive collaborative partnership with Russia is based on the basis of non-alignment, non-confrontation and non-targeting of third parties, and is a matter within the sovereignty of two independent countries," Wang stressed.

"We will never accept the US pointing fingers at Sino-Russian relations or even coercing us," he added.

Russia launched what it calls "a special military operation" in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, over the perceived threat of the ex-Soviet republic joining NATO. Since then, the United States and Ukraine's other allies have sent Kiev tens of billions of dollars' worth of weapons, including rocket systems, drones, armored vehicles, tanks, and communication systems.

Western countries have also imposed a slew of economic sanctions on Moscow. The Kremlin has said the sanctions and the Western military assistance will only prolong the war.

The current war is sensitive issue for Beijing, which is has so far tried to hold a neutral position regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine while at the same time offering diplomatic support for its ally Russia.

"It is clear to the international community who is calling for dialog and fighting for peace, and who is adding fuel to the fire and encouraging opposition," Wang added on Monday, reiterating a call for support for a Chinese proposal to end the persisting war.

Since the onset of war, the US has repeatedly accused China of providing support to Russia.

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A day prior to Blinken's claims, Beijing said that it would publish this week a proposal to find a "political solution" to the war, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi telling the Munich Security Conference that China is "on the side of dialog."

Wang further addressed the conference that Beijing was against attacks on nuclear power plants and opposed the use of biochemical weapons, stressing that China was willing to work with "all parties."

However, European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, echoing Blinken's remarks, warned China against providing weapons to Russia.

Borrell further said that he had told Yi that "for us, it would be a red line in our relationship. He told me that they are not going to do it, that they don't plan to do it. But we will remain vigilant."

The developments come as Wang is due to visit Moscow shortly, and may possibly even meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Relations between the US and China have strained over a host of issues. Earlier this month, the bilateral ties were further deteriorated after Washington shot down what it said was a Chinese spy balloon.

China insists the balloon was used for meteorological and other scientific purposes and had strayed into US airspace accidentally.

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The balloon brawl made its way to Munich, where Blinken and Wang Yi clashed over Washington's shooting down of the Chinese balloon.

According to US State Department spokesman Ned Price, Blinken "directly spoke to the unacceptable violation of US sovereignty and international law by (China's) high-altitude surveillance balloon in US territorial airspace."

Blinken also warned Wang "about the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia or assistance with systemic sanctions evasion", Price said.

Wang, for its part, told Blinken that the US-China ties had been damaged by the Balloon shooting.

Wang "made clear China's solemn position on the so-called airship incident", and "urged the US side to change course, acknowledge and repair the damage that its excessive use of force caused to China-US relations", state news agency Xinhua quoted the Chinese foreign minister as saying.

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