
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned of the consequences if China provides support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, saying in an interview after the two met that Washington was concerned Beijing was considering supplying arms to Moscow.
The diplomats met at the global security conference in Munich, just hours after Wang described Washington's response as hysterical over the response to the downed balloon in the US. Relations between the two countries have been tense since Washington shot down the suspected Chinese spy balloon.
In an interview with NBC News, Blinken said the US was very concerned that China was considering offering support to Russia and that he made it clear to Wang that "there would be serious consequences for our relationship". "There are various types of lethal assistance that they are at least considering providing, to include weapons," Blinken said.
Wang told Blinken that the US must "face and resolve the damage" in bilateral relations. A senior DASH official said China was trying to play both sides by claiming it wants to contribute to peace and stability but at the same time taking disturbing steps to support Russia's occupation of Ukraine.
Blinken "was quite blunt in warning about the implications and consequences of China providing material support to Russia or assisting Russia with systematic sanctions evasion," the senior official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.