English Translation:
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated on Friday that approximately 80% of the components used by Russia on the Ukrainian battlefield are from Chinese companies. He emphasized that supporting Russia’s war economy and prolonging Russia’s illegal war on Ukraine should “come at a cost.”
Sunak made the remarks during a press conference on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit.
“We have not wavered in our tough stance towards China (CCP) since the last Hiroshima summit,” he said, pointing out that China’s actions could undermine the free and open Indo-Pacific region.
“They conduct cyber attacks on UK elected officials,” Sunak said. “China (CCP) is also increasingly cooperating with other authoritarian countries such as Iran, North Korea, and Russia.”
On Thursday, the UK government announced a new round of sanctions against Russia, including 5 Chinese and Hong Kong companies in areas such as artillery ammunition, machine tools, microelectronics, and optical products.
Sunak highlighted during the press conference that the UK is implementing sanctions, enforcing the National Security and Investment Act to protect the UK’s democracy, technology, and supply chains.
He stated that the UK will work in coordination with allied nations to prevent China’s “bullying actions and protect our economic security.”
He directly mentioned that “Ukraine’s security is our security” and emphasized that the UK has committed to providing at least £30 billion (approximately $37.98 billion) in military aid to Ukraine annually until at least 2030.
Starting on Saturday, Ukraine will host a two-day peace summit in Switzerland, which Sunak will also attend.
“Our goal is peace, but peace should not be confused with surrender,” he said.
“But true justice will only come when Russia leaves Ukraine,” Sunak said. “Peace must be based on international law and the United Nations Charter. Peace must be based on Ukraine’s terms.”
When asked about the UK’s stance on Ukraine using Western military aid to target Russian domestic targets, Sunak said that how Ukraine uses the weapons provided by the UK is up to Ukraine, and the UK’s role is to ensure they provide the capabilities Ukraine needs.
The joint statement issued at the end of the G7 summit in Italy took a tougher stance on Beijing than before, indicating growing discontent among the US and Europe towards continued Chinese support for Russia.
G7 leaders stated in the joint statement: “China’s persistent support for Russia’s defense industry base allows Russia to maintain its illegal war in Ukraine, with significant and broad security implications.”
The statement urged China to halt the transfer of dual-use materials, including weapon parts and equipment, as they contribute to Russia’s defense efforts.
An American official stated on Friday that China’s support for Russia “poses a long-term threat to European security and raises concerns among all members of the Group of Seven.”