BLINKEN RAISES CONCERNS TO CHINA ABOUT SUPPORT FOR RUSSIAN MILITARY

BEIJING—US Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised concerns on Friday about China’s support for Russia’s military, one of the many issues threatening to sour the recent improvement in relations between the world’s biggest economies.

Blinken raised the matter with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi in Beijing, the latest high-level contact between the countries that have reduced the acrimony that pushed ties to historic lows last year.

Wang, for his part, urged Blinken to address rising disagreements or risk a “downward spiral” between the two powers after months of efforts to ease tensions.

Blinken, paying his second visit to the rival country in less than a year, voiced hope for progress but said he would directly raise areas of difference.

China has been infuriated by President Joe Biden’s pressure on the economic front—which is unlikely to ease during an election year— including a sweeping ban on semiconductor exports and efforts to wrest blockbuster video app TikTok away from its Chinese owners.

Wang had a five-anda-half-hours of talks with Blinken at the Diaoyutai state guesthouse in the capital’s ancient gardens before tables from the late Qing dynasty.

Flashpoints

“The Secretary discussed concerns about PRC support to the Russian defense industrial base,” US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, adding the two sides also discussed Taiwan, the South China Sea and other flashpoints. The PRC is short for China’s official name, the People’s Republic of China.

Despite its “no limits” partnership with Moscow, China has steered clear of providing arms for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

But US officials warn its companies are helping the weapons industry with an unprecedented build up that has helped to turn the tide of the war. For example, bigger machine tool imports from China have helped Russia increase its ballistic missile production, the officials say.