Currently, Russian President Putin is visiting China. On Thursday, May 16, a spokesperson for the US State Department stated that after the Chinese Communist Party leader vowed to strengthen relations with Putin, it is impossible to both improve relations with the West and simultaneously support Russia.
During a routine press briefing at the State Department on Thursday, US State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel responded to questions from reporters regarding Putin’s visit to China. He said, “The People’s Republic of China (Communist China) cannot have the best of both worlds, cannot have both. You cannot hope to establish good, further, stronger, and deeper relationships with Europe and other countries while continuing to exacerbate the biggest threat Europe has faced for a long time.”
The United States accuses China of providing dual-use military and civilian items to Russia for the production of rockets, drones, tanks, and other weapons. US Secretary of State Blinken stated in a press conference after his visit to China, “Without the support of China (the CCP), Russia will find it difficult to sustain its attacks on Ukraine.”
Putin’s visit to China is aimed at seeking more support from China for his war efforts. The leaders of both countries signed a joint statement on deepening the “comprehensive strategic partnership.”
Patel continued, “This is not just a matter of the United States’ position, but also a matter of concern for our G7 partners, our NATO partners, and our EU partners. By providing impetus to Russia’s defense industry base, similar to what the People’s Republic of China (Communist China) has been doing, not only threatens the security of Ukraine but also poses a threat to Europe.”
“As Beijing continues to support such activities, it is unable to build better relations with Europe,” he said.
When asked about the Chinese Communist Party leader’s statement that they do not want the situation to escalate in the Ukraine conflict, Patel responded, “From our perspective, the solution is simple: the Russian Federation can leave Ukraine, can leave the territory it occupies in Ukraine, it can leave Crimea, and we will have a peaceful solution.”
He noted, however, that President Putin and the Russian Federation have repeatedly shown disinterest in this.
Patel added that the US will closely monitor China’s support for the reconstruction of Russia’s defense industry base and will take appropriate actions independently when necessary.
“We stand ready to take necessary additional actions as this involves the People’s Republic of China (Communist China) and any entities further supporting Russia and its aggression towards Ukraine,” he said.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated on Thursday that the United States did not see any new content in the joint statement between Russia and China.
“We believe it is unacceptable for Chinese companies to assist Putin in waging war against Ukraine,” she said.
Patel also mentioned that North Korea has been and continues to provide material support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Therefore, the US will continue to condemn such behavior and will take appropriate actions to hold the participants accountable.
Russian President Putin began his two-day visit to China on Thursday. According to the itinerary, on Friday, Putin will travel to Harbin to attend the opening ceremony of the 8th Russia-China Expo and the 4th Russia-China Regional Cooperation Forum. Representatives from various regions of Russia, officials from relevant departments in China, and key companies will attend the forum. Putin will also have a brief meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and the Governor of Heilongjiang Province.