US has ‘growing concern’ over China’s relationship with Russia
Mike Brest
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The United States has a “growing concern” about China and Russia‘s relationship and the former’s support for the latter’s ongoing war in Ukraine, according to Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.
China and Russia released a communique prior to Moscow’s invasion roughly a year ago that outlined a wide range of plans for economic and diplomatic cooperation. However, their relationship has faced a heavy burden, given the global fallout from Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
WHITE HOUSE SAYS NO INDICATION THREE OBJECTS SHOT DOWN WERE CHINESE SURVEILLANCE
“My assessment is the PRC [People’s Republic of China] is trying to both increase its standing in the international community by saying that it’s willing to mediate and help bring this horrifying invasion to an end. And at the same time, they are committed to their no-limits partnership with Russia,” Sherman said at an event on Wednesday at the Brookings Institution. “And we have, certainly, concern and growing concern about that partnership and the PRC’s support for this invasion.”
While Sherman described the relationship between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin and their governments as one with “no limits,” she warned the former about the possible consequences of such a move.
“But what I would say to all of those who are supporting Russia [is] you’re going to end up with an albatross around your neck,” she added. “That’s going to create a lot of problems for those who are supporting this unholy invasion going forward,”
The Russian leader invited Xi to visit Moscow this spring and called for strengthening the relationship between their armed forces following their virtual meeting in late December.
The Biden administration is attempting to navigate the consequences of the war in Ukraine and the tens of billions of dollars of military aid they’re providing to Ukraine while also preparing for a possible conflict with a more aggressive China.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken was supposed to travel to China earlier this month but canceled his trip after the U.S. discovered a Chinese spy balloon hovering over the U.S., including over sensitive military targets.
U.S. military and intelligence officials began tracking the balloon as it lifted off from Hainan Island, which is near China’s south coast, according to the Washington Post. They expected the balloon to travel over the U.S. territory of Guam, but it took an unexpected turn north and eventually entered U.S. airspace over Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, then traveled over Canada, where it then reentered U.S. airspace before traveling across the country.
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Military personnel shot the balloon down once it reached the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 4. Chinese officials first said the balloon was a commercial entity and not one with surveillance capabilities, but they have since urged U.S. officials not to escalate the situation.
The U.S. has shot down three additional objects since, but none have yet been tied to the Chinese. While military personnel are recovering the balloon, the other three have proven to be much more challenging to recover, given the difficult terrain and conditions. They shot down additional objects off the coast of Alaska near the Arctic Circle on Friday, in the Canadian Rockies in the Yukon region on Saturday, and over Lake Huron on Sunday.