Blinken Urges Xi Jinping To Keep Check On Chinese Companies Aiding Putin's Military Efforts In Ukraine

On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to monitor and control Chinese private companies aiding Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine, following their in-person meeting in Beijing.

This call comes amidst concerns that the sanctions imposed on Vladimir Putin-led Russia by the Biden administration and its allies are being undermined by countries and companies exporting dual-use technologies to Russia.

What Happened: The U.S. has requested China to be vigilant in ensuring that private companies do not sell sanctioned materials to Russia that could bolster its military, The Hill reports. Blinken expressed concerns about Chinese private companies potentially providing assistance, including dual-use technologies, to enhance Russia’s military capacity in Ukraine.

However, Blinken also stated that there is no evidence to suggest that the Chinese government has violated its promise not to provide lethal assistance to Russia for use in Ukraine. This assurance has been reiterated by China to various countries expressing similar concerns.

Blinken’s comments were made at the conclusion of a two-day summit in Beijing, where he met with Xi and China’s top foreign policy officials. The Secretary of State is now headed to London for the “Ukraine Recovery Conference,” aimed at rallying public and private sector support for Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts.

Why It Matters: This development comes in the wake of Blinken’s visit to Beijing to mend ties amidst a backdrop of strained relations. The U.S. and China have been at odds over various issues, including China’s support for Russia amidst Western sanctions.

China, under Xi’s leadership, has maintained a close alliance with Russia, strengthened by pressure from the West. However, despite standing by Russian President Vladimir Putin and refraining from joining international sanctions, Xi has shown restraint in directly supplying weapons to Moscow.

Xi’s willingness to work towards a peace settlement between Kyiv and Moscow has met with skepticism in the West.

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