China denies US claim about arming Russia, slams Washington’s meddlesome remarks

Beijing has dismissed claims by the United States that China is considering arming Russia in its war with Ukraine, urging Washington to reflect on its own actions rather than making meddlesome comments.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday claimed that Beijing was now "considering providing lethal support" to Moscow ranging "from ammunition to the weapons themselves," almost a year after Moscow waged a war on the ex-Soviet republic.

China on Monday responded firmly to comments by the top US diplomat, stressing that Washington is in no position to make demands, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin saying that "It is the United States and not China that is endlessly shipping weapons to the battlefield."

Speaking at a regular press conference, the Chinese official added that "We urge the United States to earnestly reflect on its own actions, and do more to alleviate the situation, promote peace and dialogue, and stop shifting blame and spreading false information."

"China's comprehensive collaborative partnership with Russia is based on the basis of non-alignment, non-confrontation and non-targeting of third parties, and is a matter within the sovereignty of two independent countries," Wang stressed.

"We will never accept the US pointing fingers at Sino-Russian relations or even coercing us," he added.

"It is clear to the international community who is calling for dialog and fighting for peace, and who is adding fuel to the fire and encouraging opposition," Wang added on Monday, reiterating a call for support for a Chinese proposal to end the persisting war.

Since the onset of the conflict, the US has repeatedly accused China of providing support to Russia.

A day prior to Blinken's claims, Beijing said that it would publish this week a proposal to find a "political solution" to the war, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi telling the Munich Security Conference that China is "on the side of dialog."

Wang further addressed the conference that Beijing was against attacks on nuclear power plants and opposed the use of biochemical weapons, stressing that China was willing to work with "all parties."

However, European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, echoing Blinken's remarks, warned China against providing weapons to Russia.

Borrell further said that he had told Yi that "for us, it would be a red line in our relationship. He told me that they are not going to do it, that they don't plan to do it. But we will remain vigilant."

MG