China’s foreign ministry said on Monday that the United States had no right to “lecture” on arms supplies, as US officials worried that Beijing was considering providing “lethal support” to the Russian military, and China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, was expected to in Moscow and could meet with Vladimir Putin.

• “It is the US side, not the Chinese side, that provides a constant flow of weapons to the battlefield.
• The American side is not qualified to teach China lessons, and we will never accept that the US dictates or even exerts pressure on Sino-Russian relations,” said Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry in Beijing, as quoted by CNN.
• “Who is calling for dialogue and peace, and who is handing out knives and encouraging confrontation?” he asked rhetorically, writes News.ro.

“We will never agree to the fact that the US points a finger at Sino-Russian relations or even forces us”

He stated that China continues to “demand peace and promote negotiations” to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and firmly adheres to its position “to play a constructive role in promoting de-escalation and de-escalation of the situation.”

• China’s comprehensive partnership with Russia is based on “non-alignment, non-confrontation and non-aggression against third parties,” a Beijing official said, adding that it was “a matter of sovereignty of two independent countries.”
• “We will never accept the US pointing a finger at Sino-Russian relations or even coercing us,” the Chinese official added.

The US is concerned about China’s rapprochement with Russia

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said he was “concerned” that Beijing was considering intensifying its partnership with Moscow by providing “lethal support” to the Russian military. Blinken raised the issue during a meeting with China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, on Saturday.

The United States has recently begun to see “disturbing” trends in China’s support for Russia’s military, and there are signs that Beijing wants to “toe the line” on providing lethal military aid to Russia to avoid being caught, American officials told CNN.

The sources did not detail what information the U.S. has that suggests China’s recent shift in position, but said Washington is concerned enough to share the information with allies and partners.

The Kremlin confirms that a high-ranking Chinese official is expected in Moscow

The remarks come as Wang Yi, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s foreign policy adviser and considered China’s highest-ranking diplomat, is expected in Moscow after attending the Munich Security Conference at the weekend. Wang Yi is the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and a member of the Chinese leadership.

On Monday, the Kremlin did not rule out a meeting between Wang Yi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

• “We do not rule out the meeting of Mr. Wang Yi with the president, he will indeed be in Moscow. We will inform you about the date,” Kremlin spokesman Dmytro Peskov said. He added that “the relations between Russia and China are multidimensional, allied in nature.”
• “The agenda is clear and very broad, so there is much to discuss,” Peskov noted.

The day before, Kommersant newspaper reported that Wang Yi is arriving in Moscow on the last stage of his European tour, which ends on February 22. According to the newspaper, the main purpose of the visit is to “increase Beijing’s role in solving the Ukrainian problem.”

Zelensky: If China unites with Russia, there will be a world war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi warned China not to support Russia in a war launched against his country, as it would lead to a world war.

• “It is important for us that China does not support the Russian Federation in this war,” Zelensky said in an interview given to the German daily Die Welt, quoted by Agerpres.
• “Actually, I wish he was with us. But for now I don’t think it’s possible,” the Ukrainian president added.
• “But I see an opportunity for China to make a pragmatic assessment of what is happening here. Because if China unites with Russia, there will be a world war, and I don’t think that China is aware of this,” Zelensky said.