U.S. Authorities Believe China May Provide Non-Lethal Military Assistance to Russia, Sources Say NBC News. The channel’s interlocutors declined to disclose details, but clarified that the deliveries may include “spring offensive equipment” – military uniforms or bulletproof vests.
The Joe Biden administration is concerned that the PRC may consider lethal assistance, NBC claims. “We have made clear our concerns about lethal assistance. We have not yet seen them cross this line, but we do not think that they have removed this issue from consideration, ”the source said. The White House National Security Council declined to comment.
Washington has repeatedly warned Beijing about the consequences if it provides material assistance to Russia in the conflict with Ukraine and if it helps circumvent sanctions. Such a warning, for example, was voiced by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken at a meeting with Wang Yi, head of the office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on February 18.
According to Bloomberg, the United States in January showed the Chinese government evidence that some Chinese state-owned companies could provide “non-lethal military and economic assistance” to Russia in the conflict in Ukraine. According to the interlocutors of the agency, Washington believes that Beijing wants to help Russia and is not a neutral party.