Thu Sep 19 07:27:52 UTC 2024: ## China’s Support for Russia in Ukraine War Comes Directly From Top Leadership: U.S. Official

**Washington, D.C.** – A senior U.S. State Department official has accused the Chinese government of directly supporting Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, with the support coming from the highest levels of leadership in Beijing.

Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell told lawmakers on Wednesday that China’s involvement in supplying Russia with advanced technology, including crucial chips and components for explosives, has significantly enhanced Moscow’s battlefield capabilities.

“The most worrisome thing is that it [China’s support for Russia] comes from the very top,” Campbell stated during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing. “We see the role of UAVs [drones] and other capacities that are penetrating the Ukrainian airspace. Much of that has been supported surreptitiously by China, and it raises real concerns.”

Campbell added that the U.S. underestimated the intensity of the relationship between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, highlighting the growing threat posed by China’s involvement in the conflict.

Chinese officials have denied the accusations, calling them “smears” and insisting that the U.S. should not interfere with “normal relations” between China and Russia. Beijing continues to advocate for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, despite the war’s ongoing devastation.

Meanwhile, U.S. officials are urging European allies to join in imposing sanctions on Chinese banks that are allegedly supporting Russia’s war effort. Campbell stated, “We’ve put many of their [PRC] financial institutions on watch… We’ve got to have Europeans with us.”

The State Department’s concerns about China’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict are heightened by the recent joint military exercises between China and Russia. The massive naval and air drills, dubbed “Ocean-2024,” involved hundreds of ships, aircraft, and thousands of troops, signaling a growing military cooperation between the two countries.

Chinese officials have maintained that the joint exercise was intended to address “joint threats,” but the U.S. views it as a further indication of China’s willingness to challenge the established global order.

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