France is monitoring the activities of Chinese companies that could offer help to Russia, the French foreign minister said on Tuesday, in a context in which the Sino-Russian rapprochement is increasingly worrying the West, reports AFP.

“There are Chinese private companies whose activities we closely monitor,” Catherine Colonna said in an interview with public broadcaster France 5 about a potential strategic partnership between China and Russia.

Late last week, US foreign policy chief Anthony Blinken told CBS News that Chinese companies are already providing “non-lethal aid” to Russia’s military efforts.

He stated that “there is no difference between private and public companies.” In addition to weapons, you can consider a whole arsenal of auxiliary equipment, such as body armor, food rations, etc.

When asked where these companies are located, Kateryna Kolonna answered that they are “not necessarily on the ground.”

The minister also assured that France speaks “quite diplomatically and quite clearly” with Beijing about its desire that Beijing “not extend a helping hand to Russia”, also emphasizing that it prefers “to maintain China’s commitment to stability, which is beneficial”. him in the long run.”

She said the West should get a clearer picture of China’s position in New York when the UN Security Council meets on February 24, a month after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday that he is “increasingly concerned” about China’s possible military support for Russia.

EU Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said that his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, assured him that China does not supply Russia with weapons and has no plans to do so.