Beijing accuses Washington of spreading misinformation about its support for Russia

China said on Wednesday that it opposes the United States “spreading misinformation” after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Beijing’s support for the Russian defense industry “must stop.”

Blinken said on Tuesday at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg that China is providing crucial support that enables “Russia to keep that defense industrial base going, to keep the war machine going, to keep the war going. So that has to stop.”

China insists it is neutral in the Ukraine war and says it does not send military aid to either side, unlike the United States and other Western countries.

“We firmly oppose the United States spreading misinformation without any evidence and blaming China,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a press conference.

But the strategic partnership between China and Russia has strengthened since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, with Beijing providing a lifeline to the isolated Russian economy.

Last week, G7 foreign ministers expressed “grave concern” about the transfer of weapons components to Russia that are fueling the war in Ukraine, according to their final statement.

“We call on China to cease transfers of dual-use items, including weapons components and equipment, to the Russian defense sector,” the statement said.

China skipped a weekend summit in Switzerland on peace in Ukraine.