the war but they want to increase their economic ties with russia, they are selling non military or perhaps dual use equipment such as drones, but so far they have stopped short of military support. i think they would like to support russia militarily because i don t want russia to lose but i think the economic consequences for china would be so grave that so far they have not taken that step. i believe we have been have not taken that step. i believe we have been looking have not taken that step. i believe we have been looking at have not taken that step. i believe we have been looking at pictures l have not taken that step. i believe l we have been looking at pictures of joint military drills between russia and china, just on our screens moments ago, but given what you have said, is this even a possibility, ian, that china would go to that extent and supply weapons to the kremlin? it is one thing to dojoint military exercises, it is entirely another thing to go down the route o
long running conflict, i think it is there to say, with taiwan. the long-running conflict, i think it is there to say, with taiwan. the west has sent so there to say, with taiwan. the west has sent so much there to say, with taiwan. the west has sent so much warmer there to say, with taiwan. the west has sent so much warmer trail - there to say, with taiwan. the west has sent so much warmer trail to i has sent so much warmer trail to ukraine that they have white run down debt stocks and in the event of a conflict with taiwan, that could pose problems. until last year, many people in taiwan were quite fatalistic about resisting china, they thought that it is hopeless, they thought that it is hopeless, they are ten times bigger than we are, and even in the us comes to our aid, we can t really resist them. now they had seen the example of ukraine standing up to its much bigger neighbour, obviously different circumstances etc, but it has really rejuvenated people and galvanised the
considering, they have probably been considering, they have probably been considering it for a year and so far have refrain refrain from doing so. i guess if the us has real evidence that they are planning to do something, they would probably need to make that public, otherwise it is going to hard to be set hard to sustain this accusation. this coming on the back of further tensions between the us and china. i am wondering, from what you have heard, how is what the us been saying about this being viewed in china and what beijing might decide to do not to do with regards to the war in ukraine? it to do not to do with regards to the war in ukraine? war in ukraine? it been re ected firml b war in ukraine? it been re ected firmly by china war in ukraine? it been re ected firmly by china as i war in ukraine? it been rejected firmly by china as provocative i war in ukraine? it been rejected i firmly by china as provocative and baseless, etc etc. they have made it clear that china is
assistance to russia in this aggression against ukraine or in a systematic way aiding the evasion of sanctions. well earlier, the chinese foreign ministry said it was america, not china that was endlessly shipping weapons to the battlefield. wang yi china s top diplomat is expected in moscow for talks on several issues including ukraine. for more on the role of china in the war in ukraine i m joined now by ianjohnson, a senior fellow in china studies at the us think tank, the council on foreign relations. it s great to get you on the programme. this is a pretty strong statement from antony blinken. is there any evidence for the united states is staying saying to china possibly supplying weapons to russia? ~ , ., ., , possibly supplying weapons to russia? ~ ., , ., russia? well, so far, there is no real evidence. russia? well, so far, there is no real evidence. the russia? well, so far, there is no real evidence. the united - russia? well, so far, there is no real evidenc
territories seized last year and they went into the crimean peninsula and some sort of perhaps more core areas so important to russia where putin is facing some sort of internal revolt or massive unrest, then i could see china stepping in to help russia. i think currently it is hard to imagine china doing so but then again we can imagine putting taking the steps that he took a year ago. i think it is important to recognise that for china, russia has become its most important partner overseas, and this is something closely tied to xi jinping that he does not want to lose. jinping that he does not want to lose. , ., ,., , ., lose. yes, and something else that is closely tied lose. yes, and something else that is closely tied to lose. yes, and something else that is closely tied to xi lose. yes, and something else that is closely tied to xi jinping - lose. yes, and something else that is closely tied to xi jinping is - lose. yes, and something else that is closely tied to xi jinping