We made it clear that China’s support for Russia would have consequences, says US spokeswoman

US State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Monday that the country has made it clear that any support from China to Russia for the invasion of Ukraine would have consequences for Xi Jinping’s government.

According to Price, “there is a lot that China has to explain”, and the Asian country has been strengthening its ties with the government of Vladimir Putin. The American spokesman also stressed that the United States would like “to see all countries making their positions clear” on the war in Ukraine.

“It is up to all countries in the world to speak clearly so that there are no ambiguities in their positions. We heard statements from China that had mixed messages,” Price said.

The US State Department spokesperson added that members of the US government met with Chinese officials “to ensure clarity of our concerns and implications, as we are closely observing the extent to which China would support financially, economically, or in any other way Russia in this war by choice of Putin”.

Price referred to the meeting between US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi, which took place in Rome on Monday.

In a statement, the White House said the conversation addressed issues in US-China relations “with substantial discussion of Russia’s war against Ukraine.”

According to the State Department spokesperson, the US delegation “raised directly and clearly” concerns about China’s support for Russia during the meeting.

Price further stated that “supporting Russia after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine would have implications for China’s relationships around the world, including with US allies and partners in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.”

*With information from Reuters