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Russia Sought Military Equipment From China.
According to a US official, Russia has asked China for military equipment to use in its invasion of Ukraine, a move that heightens tensions about the war ahead of a meeting between top aides from the US and China scheduled for Monday.
Jake Sullivan, White House national security adviser, warned China to avoid helping Russia evade sanctions that have hammered the Russian economy ahead of the talks. “We will not allow that to happen,” he said.
Joe Biden is concerned about the possibility of China offering financial assistance to Russia.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, revealed that in recent days, Russia had requested military equipment from China in order to advance in its ongoing war with Ukraine. The official did not elaborate on the nature of the request.
The Biden govt is also accusing China of spreading Russian disinformation that could pretext for Russian President’s forces to attack Ukraine with chemical or biological weapons.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has put China in a delicate spot with 2 of its biggest trading partners: the US and European Union. China needs access to those markets, yet it also has shown support for Moscow, joining with Russia in declaring a friendship with “no limits.”
Sullivan will indeed be looking for limits in what Beijing can do to Moscow when he meets with senior Chinese foreign policy adviser Yang Jiechi.
Biden govt officials say Beijing is spreading false Russian claims that Ukraine was running chemical and biological weapons labs with US support. They say China effectively provides cover if Russia moves ahead with a biological or chemical weapons attack on Ukrainians.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on ABC's "This Week" that "we haven't seen anything to suggest an imminent chemical or biological attack right now, but we are keeping a close eye on it."
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